Twitchers on the River Medway had a shock last week as a pedalling professor powered past Strood... in a swan pedalo!

Andrew Kötting, who works at the University for the Creative Arts, sailed past KM Group's Medway base, pursued by a film crew, as part of a 200-mile journey from Hastings to Hackney.

Prof Kotting has pedalled up to 15 hours a day since September 17 and is due to arrive in Hackney this Friday.

The journey will be made into a feature film, Swandown, starring the professor of time-based media at UCA's Maidstone campus.

He said: "Last year we mapped the route and presented our findings at a Cultural Olympiad exhibition for UCA where we realised it was possible.

"I then pitched the idea to the film council and other funders and they all took us seriously – I've no idea why!"

He added: "Pedalling the swan has been tough but the endurance side has been made easier by the people you meet along the way.

"The public's enthusiasm and support really sustains and invigorates you when you're suffering from exhaustion, and as you'll find out in the film, the characters we meet are a major part of the plot."