A Dunstable rower who is in the middle of the toughest race of her life suffered a setback when one of her team-mates pulled out midway across the Atlantic.

But despite the disappointment of losing one of the quartet, Claire Mills, from Lancot Avenue, could help make rowing history by being part of the first all-female trio to complete the Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race.

The 23-year-old was rowing with skipper Sally Kettle, 28, Sue McMillan, 30, and Jo Davies, 27, until Jo was picked up by a rescue boat due to back problems.

The Rowgirls.com left the Canary Islands on November 30, along with 27 other boats filled with quartets or duos.

And they have even been racing against a celebrity double-act boat of TV presenter Ben Fogle and Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell.

But the girls have become minor celebrities themselves after letting slip that they will be rowing naked.

Claire said: "It gets so hot without any shade, with temperatures in the 30s, so we'll spend quite a lot of the time naked.

"A lot of ocean rowers go nude, and I certainly wouldn't mind bumping into Ben Fogle en route.

"If anyone notices we've turned around midway in the race, it's because we're chasing him."

Rowgirls.com are currently 18th in the 2,550-nautical-mile race, which was won by All Relative on Monday, but are well on their way to the finishing line in sunny Antigua.

The former Queensbury Upper School pupil had been preparing for the race all last year after a chance meeting with skipper Sally.

She has been training at Fitness First in Luton and each girl had to gain a stone-and-a-half in weight for the gruelling race, as they burn so many calories at sea.

To follow the girls' progress, visit: www.rowgirls.com