A FAMILIAR face was welcomed into Marlow last Monday, as Mr Toad from children's book The Wind in the Willows arrived to meet and greet youngsters as well as someone not so young.

Mr Toad headed into town in a vintage 1924 open top Vauxhall, before stopping at Higginson Park to meet children and dish out some welcome treats.

At the park, he also met Marlow Mayor Cllr Roger Wilson, who stayed to observe some of the fun and have some photos.

The toad was spotted "speeding" around streets before parking up, but fortunately he was not stopped and searched by police.

He was in Marlow to help promote the Henley River and Rowing museum's Wind in the Willows exhibition.

Cllr Wilson said: "The top speed of the car was 100mph with a cruise of 80mph. Imagine being overtaken by a vintage car on the M25?

"It was great fun. The kids loved him, he's a great character.

"I am trying to use him in the Marlow Carnival actually because the kids loved him. I think it would be a great idea to have their photo taken with Mr Toad."

The exhibition at the museum follows the experiences of Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole around the River Thames, whose landscape is said to have provided the inspiration behind the book.