Molly’s owner Mrs B accompanied accompanied us to the bus stop but Molly wasn’t prepared to go any further. After much futile cajoling and gentle persuasion I tried to tug her away but with impressive Houdini-like dexterity she slipped her harness and headed straight back.

An attempt to carry her around a corner and out of sight failed also completely failed as she set up barking and whining and was utterly perplexed when we returned to the bus stop to find Mrs B had disappeared , magicked away by a red 33 bus.

As a result, our subsequent walk along the river bank was rather short.