IN true Famous Five fashion, there will be sticky buns and lashings of ginger beer for everyone who comes to see Anne Howarth set off in a rowing boat from Pershore on Saturday.

Like Enid Blyton's tomboy heroine, George, she will have her faithful dog beside her as she rows 40 miles from Pershore to Slimbridge.

Anne, from Naunton Beauchamp, has survived breast cancer and decided to celebrate her 60th birthday with an effort to raise at least £2,000 for Cancer Research.

And a rowing expedition at the start of the summer holidays was so reminiscent of the 60-year-old Famous Five stories that the publishers agreed to let her use their name and logo.

It shows the curly-haired George, with her dog, Timmy, in a rowing boat not unlike her own. The real life Anne said she never wanted to be like the fictional one.

"I wasn't interested in doing the cooking or tidying the house," said Anne.

"I wanted to be like George, who wore shorts and did boyish things. I longed to have curly hair and a dog like Timmy."

She learned to row at the age of six or seven during family holidays in the Salcombe estuary, in Devon, and has also acquired a dog with floppy ears, named Flossie.

Her venture is due to start from Pershore Leisure Centre at 10.30am tomorrow and take her down the Avon and Severn to the Sharpness Canal, finishing at Patch Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.

She will be accompanied by a narrow boat, Marsh Warbler, providing support and overnight accommodation.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Anne should call Helen Kerr on 01905 381425.