A GROUP of intrepid firefighters battled strong winds and rain to complete a gruelling 84-mile sponsored kayak in just 20 hours for charity.

Simon Fryer, from Barrowford, was joined by ten other colleagues from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, including Caroline Sturgess, from Darwen, Dave Clegg, from Colne, Phil Jones from Ribble Valley and Steve Morgan from Burnley, who kayaked from Preston to Tewitfield and back on the Lancaster Canal.

Setting off at midnight on Wednesday, they completed the epic feat by 8pm the same day raising £7,500 for the Firefighters’ Charity.

Incredibly, Mr Fryer managed to kayak the full 20 hours, and was joined by a fellow colleague every 8.4 miles to complete the tandem kayak four hours quicker than they had aimed to.

Simon, who also raised £1,000 for Pendleside Hospice, said: “We were in a great, big tandem kayak with two seats.

“I was sitting in the back steering the kayak and I was joined by another colleague every 8.4 miles from various checkpoints.

“We had our own support drivers, who were friends and family, driving each colleague to various checkpoints where they would then get on the kayak.

“It was a fantastic experience and not that exhausting, as last year myself and a colleague did 128 miles on a kayak in two days on the Leeds/Liverpool canal.

“The weather was mild and breezy and we did have a couple of downpours but it never deterred us.”

Fellow colleague Caroline Sturgess, from Darwen, who also took part in the challenge, said: "It was a brilliant event and the money is going to the Firefighters' Charity, who do a great job supporting firefighters and their families who have experienced traumatic events through the course of doing their jobs."

The group have aimed to raise £10,000, and are in the process of organising other fundraising events.

To donate to the group, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=LancasterCanal84&isTeam=true