Alan Thornewill will be “Swanning” down the river in his giant Pedalo. Photo Credit: RNLI.

A man from Crawley Down is hoping to raise £5000 for the RNLI in a most unusual way.

Royal Navy Veteran Alan Thornewill is aiming to travel from the head of the River Thames in Lechlade, Gloucestershire to Teddington Lock in London using a pedalo!

The 126-mile gruelling journey is expected to take 6 days and will include a total of 43 locks as he undertakes the challenge.

If that wasn’t enough, once he reaches dry land, the pedalo’s crew is then going to push the giant swan feature to the annual Army versus Navy rugby match at Twickenham.

Operation Ruby Jack as it’s called happens to coincide with Alan’s 60^th birthday and also marks 40 years since he joined the Royal Navy.

Anyone who would like to donate to his cause can find out more details by clicking on his fundraising page here.

it’s been revealed that night-time safety marshals have been pulled from three major towns in Sussex following Home Office funding cuts.

The towns which include Crawley had marshals patrolling the streets which were run by a private security firm in the evening to help keep people safe after dark.

Chief Inspector Jim Loader from Sussex police said, “Keeping people safe at night remains a priority of the force and officers will continue to provide a proactive, visible presence in the towns affected”.

Crawley High Street will be filled with music and community spirit as the town comes together to celebrate St George’s Day.

From 12pm to 4pm on the 25 April, people are invited to an afternoon of live entertainment, family friendly activities and local community stalls in the heart of the town.

Names of candidates standing for election in the new East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council elections on 7 May have been published.

In total 379 candidates are standing for 72 seats across 36 wards in the East Surrey Council Elections and 452 candidates are standing for 90 seats across 45 wards in the West Surrey Council elections

Details of those standing can be found on the Future Surrey website.

Polls will open at 7am on the 7 May. Voter will receive poll card informing them of their nearest polling station.

A drink-driver who accelerated towards a police officer on foot, has been sentenced.

38-year-old Lee Houghton, was arrested after he reversed and accelerated away, directly into the path of a Crawley Response Unit officer on Crawley High Street.

Breath tests showed Houghton had 98 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath in his system – almost three times the legal limit.

Houghton was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months. He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months.