A COUPLE challenged a department store to a delivery with a difference after having their new kitchen transported to their cottage on a 20-foot narrow boat.

Keith Cockett, aged 62, and his wife Iris Keating, aged 55, knew getting their dream kitchen to their isolated Preston-on-the-Hill home would be difficult but John Lewis, Cheadle, offered to transport the goods on a boat belonging to neighbours, Mr and Mrs Chapman.

Extra staff from the department store were called to crew the boat for the journey that is between one and two miles from the road.

After more than 10 trips along the canal from the store’s lorry to the house last Tuesday the job was ready to begin.

Dr Keating said: “Living here is idyllic. It’s so quiet because it is away from the road. We have cats so we never have to worry about them being on roads. It’s quite an amazing place.”

She explained how her unusual delivery was more environmentally friendly than using lorries.

Carmel Cooney, administration clerk at John Lewis, said: “This is definitely the most unusual delivery we have done. The customers have been very good, it’s all been transported in a day’s work.”

Due to the remote location of Tunnel End, the residents have to park their cars 500 yards from the cottages.

Iris said: “When we do a big shop we use a wheelbarrow to take the shopping to the house. It’s next to the Bridgewater Canal so people on boats comment about how much wine we have bought!”