A VISITOR made an unusual arrival at Canford School... via the River Stour aboard a paper boat.

World record-breaker Tim Fitzhigham paddled his way into the school grounds in a canoe made of paper and amazingly stayed afloat.

The eccentric fundraiser recently broke the world record by rowing his paper boat the 160-mile length of the Thames in eight days - and raised £10,000 for Comic Relief.

He's also rowed across the English Channel in a bathtub.

Caroline Everitt, marketing assistant at the school, described his arrival as "an unusual sight".

She added: "The pupils were really surprised. They expected it to look more like paper.

"He explained that though it's predominantly made of paper it is reinforced with plastic to stop it sinking. Our rowers here were particularly interested."

Tim's visit coincided with a week entitled Man and the Ocean, marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

He also treated visitors to the school to a hilarious show chronicling his adventures and the people he met along the way - ranging from Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, who offered him training tips, to the Queen.

First published: October 24