A BUTCHER will travel to London next week to exercise his right to herd sheep over the River Thames.

John Vernon, of Vernon's Butchers in Holt, holds the ancient power in his capacity as Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Butchers and Freeman of the City of London.

John, of Broxton, was admitted to the 400-year-old society in 2001 because of his lifelong experience in the family butchers.

Vernon's Butchers was started in Tattenhall in 1880 and John was the fourth generation of the family to work there when he inherited it aged 19.

The business also ran from Broxton and Gresford and is now based in Holt.

He will join other freemen of the city at 10.15am on Saturday to drive a herd of 60 sheep from Southwark Cathedral across the Millennium Footbridge to Smith-

field Market.

The route passes through Borough Market, past the Tate Modern and across the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. The herd will be sponsored and the money goes to charity.

John, 72, said: 'I'm very pleased and proud to have the chance to partake in one of the perks of being a liveryman.'

The Worshipful Company of Butchers is one of the oldest livery companies of London and promotes education and training within the meat industry.

Other rights held by the freemen of the City are to go about the City with a drawn sword, and if convicted of a capital offence, to be hung with a silken rope.

They also have the right to avoid being press-ganged, to be married in St Paul's Cathedral, buried in the City and to be drunk and disorderly without fear of arrest.