A POLICEMAN paddling round Britain in a kayak will head for the Channel Islands from Portland Bill.

Traffic officer Sean Morley, 39, set himself the Yak Paddling Challenge 2004 to raise £10,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and the Marine Conservation Society.

In the first ever solo circumnavigation of the inhabited British Isles by sea kayak, he hopes to cover more than 4,200 miles in six months - but strong winds have kept him in Weymouth.

Mr Morley told the Echo he hoped to leave for Alderney tomorrow and said: "It is a bit frustrating, I was scuppered by an easterly wind.

"I need to get across to the Channel Islands by Thursday, otherwise I am running out of time."

The 'kayak cop' faces a 65-mile crossing to Alderney and the Channel Islands, which he estimates will take about 15 hours. From there, it will take a week to get round all the islands before heading back to Portland and on to Falmouth for his target finish date of September 26. Mr Morley, who was met by the inshore lifeboat and Weymouth Canoe Lifeguards when he arrived, said: "Swan-age to Weymouth is a cracking bit of coastline." To make a donation, visit the website www.expeditionkayak.com