A determined team of rowers swapped their oars for hiking boots and ran up Britain's three highest mountains to raise more than £1,500 for charity.

Bedford Star Club rowers Mark Bavington, Kevan Armstrong, Joel Grant-Jones and Will Eason completed the renowned Three Peaks Challenge in an impressive 19 hours and 90 seconds.

All the money raised will go to Bedford Hospital's Primrose Unit, which took care of Mr Eason's father during his fight against bowel cancer.

Mr Eason said: "My father died in April, but he went through the Primrose Unit and everyone there was so supportive and helpful I thought this would be a good opportunity to raise some money for the charity."

Despite all four men being keen athletes, Mr Eason admitted the climbing was challenging and was not made any easier by the unseasonal weather.

The 26-year-old said: "It was a pretty tough day, we started at 6pm at Ben Nevis and then you don't sleep until the end.

"Even in the car you can't sleep, not with four other people there, you just get out, run up a mountain and then repeat it all over again. It was a great experience, but it hurt."

The Three Peaks Challenge traditionally consists of climbing Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, Scafell Pike, the highest hill in England, and Snowdon, the biggest Welsh peak, all in 24 hours.

But the super-fit team decided to make things extra challenging and only allowed themselves 20 hours to complete the epic journey, which includes a 481-mile drive between mountains.

Anyone wishing to sponsor the team can still do so at www.justgiving.com/kevanarmstrong