INSPIRED by the gruelling 3,000 mile Atlantic challenge completed by the Four Oarsmen, pupils and staff at Mowden Hall, near Stocksfield, set about raising funds for Mind and Spinal Research.

On Tuesday (March 20) the whole school, from nursery to Year 8, played their part in collectively cycling, swimming, walking and running 3,000 miles.

And they had a visit from Four Oarsmen team member, Peter Robinson, to help spur them on.

Nursery children contributed to the mileage count by riding their bikes around the tennis courts and pacing around the grounds on nature walks.

The Prep School children set themselves ambitious targets on the rowing machines, and even chose to come in their break times to make sure they achieved their goals.

Year 4 and 5 reliably showed up at every break time, as well as their allotted slots, to cheer each other on whilst whizzing around the track, on scooters in the gym, or spinning on static bikes.

Year 6 pounded the cross country track, collectively covering 101 miles, and Year 8 proved to be keen rowers and covered some serious miles, despite acquiring blisters.

Debbie Freeman-Griffith, the school's marketing co-ordinator, said: "Some of the miles were completed during the preceding week in preparation for Tuesday and having two fantastic causes to raise money for has really kept everyone going."

The Four Oarsmen, which included Peter from Alnwick and Dicky Taylor who grew up in Stocksfield, completed the gruelling Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 29 days and 15 hours, smashing the previous record of 35 days.

By completing the challenge, which saw them entering the history books, in January the quartet also raised £250,000 for the two charities in the process.