MORE than 100 youngsters "swam the Channel" to raise £1218.50 for St John's Hospice, Lancaster.

The swimmers clocked up 52 miles at Hornby and Casterton pools, the equivalent of Dover to Calais.

All are pupils at swimming school Sink or Swim, owned by Becky Townend. She has embarked on a year of challenges for the hospice, including a Nepal trek, a skydive and a London to Paris cycle ride.

The smallest swimmers achieved 100-metre swims and the more experienced reached up to 1500 metres, some of them gaining new distance badges.

Becky said: "I am absolutely over the moon and so proud of all our swimmers. They have been working towards their swimming badges for so long and completing them as part of this fundraiser for such a great cause will add extra merit to their achievements.”

Andrea Jackson, mother to two of the swimmers, Matthew and Ella, said: "The children were so excited to be able to raise money for the hospice; I am a volunteer there after they cared for my grandad and my children know just how important the charity is."