FOR most people, swimming the equivalent of the Channel would be challenge enough.

But a group of Southampton swimmers decided to make it even harder - by only using their arms.

Calling themselves Legless, the team swam concurrently in adjacent lanes at Shirley Swimming Pool.

Together, they clocked up the 1,408 lengths - the equivalent of 22 miles - in just over two hours.

Now Legless have become the first team to complete the Channel swim in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. All sponsor money collected for their efforts will go to the charity's South Hampshire Appeal.

Legless members David Perry, 46, Callum Perry, 17, Steven Hansford, 47, Dean Eatwell, 45, Nigel Colmer, 40, and Kevin Gallagher, 52, were presented with prizes for their efforts.

David said: "We are made up of keen, experienced competition swimmers. In order to make our swim more challenging we all swam with a float between our legs."

The Channel challenge can be swum by individuals as well as teams.

All money raised will help Macmillan fund a cancer support and information centre being built at Southampton General Hospital. The Daily Echo-backed appeal hit the halfway mark last year and building work is well under way.

Call Macmillan on 023 8023 6367.