Two Buckfastleigh women have swum nearly 43 miles to raise money for charity – the equivalent of Dover to Calais and back again.

Tracy Dommett and Sue Kerswell began their challenge on June 1, aiming to complete 1,609 lengths of Buckfastleigh outdoor pool or 21 miles.

But after achieving the equivalent of one Channel swim, they kept going, clocking up a total of 42.89 miles (3,220 lengths) on August 7 and raising £1,082 for Macmillan Cancer.

Tracy said: “What a summer we have had!. We’ve made new friends in the pool, including Emma and James who have often swum up and down the many lengths keeping us company. They celebrated with us on the night of Thursday, July 2 when we completed the 21 miles, which we completed in 25 swims in five weeks.

“I then went on a nine-day holiday but as soon as I returned, I was back in the pool with Sue and we have chipped away another 21 miles.

“I’m so proud of myself and Sue. This challenge was daunting at the beginning - we had no plan other than just to swim, neither of us have ever done anything like this in our lives before. If anyone had once said I would be setting my alarm for 5.45am to be in the pool at 6.30am I would have laughed at them and said ‘no way ever’!”

The pair met at Buckfastleigh Slimming Club and bonded over their love of swimming – which they plan to continue doing.

Tracy said: “We’ll be carrying on until the pool closes at the end of the season, and when it reopens for cold water swimming sessions on Sunday mornings, we will be there.

“We love our swimming and won’t be stopping.”