BBC local radio teams complete swim challenge

The Newcastle team swam their final mile live during Look North

BBC local radio stations across the North East and Cumbria have taken to the water to complete their Thousand Mile Challenge for Children in Need.

Teams from across the UK came together to swim 1,000 miles (1,609km) for Pudsey - 24 miles (38.6km) for each station taking part.

BBC Radio Tees and Cumbria completed the challenge after five days of swimming, while BBC Radio Newcastle finished its entire leg in one day, with the team of five swimming the final lap live during Look North.

The money raised will help children across the country.

The BBC Radio Newcastle team completed its challenge - the equivalent of swimming from South Shields to Consett- in the pool at the city's Northumbria University.

Breakfast presenter Matt Bailey said he was proud to be a part of it.

Meanwhile mid-morning presenter Anna Foster said there had been "a lot of chafing", but it had been "worth all the pain".

BBC Radio Cumbria's challenge was completed at Derwentwater

Hartlepool United commentator Rob Law joined the Radio Tees team at Borocuda Middlesbrough to tell the swimmers they were about the complete their distance, which was the equivalent of travelling from Peterlee, County Durham, to Guisborough, near Middlesbrough.

"Some look like seals, others look a little bit more stranded," he said, as the swimmers entered the pool for the last time.

"All week you have given your all."

The BBC Radio Tees team started their swim on Monday

The local stations are swimming for local charities including Home Start, Teesside, which helps families with children under five who are struggling.

Jane, who was supported by the charity, said before she was referred to Home Start she had "hit a brick wall".

"Without the funding from Children in Need, families like myself would be stuck," she said.

Derwentwater in Cumbria was about 10C for the final swim

In Cumbria, Carlisle United commentator James Philips and Joanne McKenzie completed their lengths in Derwentwater.

Ahead of the final swim, Joanne said she was feeling "nervous" as the water was about 10C.

"The sky has some blue in it, so that makes me very happy," she added.

"It's been challenging. It's been really good though, I really enjoyed it."