SEVERN surfer Stuart Ballard has successfully conquered the bore-riding challenge of his life, achieving five rides on the River Batang Lupar in Malaysia.

Invited as a guest to highlight the potential of the bore as a holiday attraction, Stuart had been warned he might have to share the river with local crocodiles. But no-one told him about the wave!

"The river was about as wide as the Severn at Awre so I didn't think it would be too much to worry about. But it started chest high and grew from there. It was almost much faster than our bore," he said.

There was, he said, one report of a crocodile sighting but he did not see the animal.

The Batang Lupar bore, known as the banak, was first surfed in 2009 and Stuart became the first Englishman to take on the challenge.

"It was a wonderful experience. The river was very busy with boats of all shapes and sizes. The biggest tide of the year, known as the King tide, is celebrated with a riverside festival.

"There were huge crowds and one estimate was that there 50,000 people there. Stalls line the streets and they are open at 7am. The event goes on until the wee small hours," said Stuart.

Locals were fascinated by Stuart's surfboard which was made especially for the visit by his pal and boardmaker Mike Clement, of Gloucester. It featured a colourful illustration of the River Severn goddess, Sabrina.

"Every time I left the river it took me an hour as loads of people wanted to be photographed with me and the board," he said.

It was, he added, a beautiful country with warm and friendly people.