An extreme charity challenge has seen an amateur team row 500 miles across the channel in six days raising more than £100,000.

The Real Boat Race 2013 saw two teams pitted against each other racing from the River Thames at the London Eye on Saturday, May 4, to the Eiffel Tower in Paris via the River Seine.

The winning team, who were rowing for Ickle Pickles - a charity which helps to support neo-natal units - reached Paris with half an hour to spare on Saturday May 11, raising almost £90,000.

However the second team, rowing in support of Help for Heroes, were unable to complete the race due to "insurmountable difficulties" and injuries.

Both teams exceeded their target raising a total of £110,296.19 between them for the two causes.

Crew member Paul Sechiari, 38, of Keswick Avenue, Merton Park, said: "It was an incredible experience.

"The crossing of the Channel was amazing - we saw dolphins and beautiful sunrises."

He added: "The last three days were a complete battle against the elements and we had to dig deep.

"We made it by the skin of our teeth.

"It was a shame the other team had to pull out.

"We were racing but it would have been nice if they finished as well."

Only one member of the crew had rowed before while the rest had taken it up for the race making them the first ever amateur crew to win the race.

Visit icklepickles.org for more information or to donate visit justgiving.com/teams/therealboatrace