Fab five in final push for Children in Need swim

George King, Cleah Hetherington, Stuart Howells, Zoie O'Brien and Isaac Chenery were given a boost by Pudsey bear

An amphibious five from BBC Suffolk have completed their final push in the fundraising Thousand Mile challenge for BBC Children in Need.

Journalists George King, Cleah Hetherington, Stuart Howells, Look East reporter Zoie O'Brien and producer Isaac Chenery each swam a mile every day for five days at Crown Pools in Ipswich.

The challenge began on Monday and has seen BBC radio presenters making a splash at local pools across the UK for a total of 1,000 miles or 64,000 lengths of a 25m pool.

On Friday, the team met up for the last few lengths and were cheered on by BBC Suffolk breakfast presenter Wayne Bavin and Pudsey bear.

George King and Stuart Howells had trained with Pudsey at Beccles Lido

"It's got harder and harder as it's gone on," said George, from BBC News Online.

"As soon as we got into the pool it started to dawn on us how difficult it was going to be, but I feel really good that we've reached the end, and really proud of us all that we've helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for Children in Need."

Zoie said felt she had found her swimming mojo and she was surprised that it had eventually felt "pretty good" to do so many lengths at a time.

Breakfast show producer Isaac admitted he had not prepared, having believed his training for a half marathon "would get him through".

"It was tougher than I expected," he explained.

"I am glad we've finished, and it's phenomenal to think of where that money will go, and what it will do."

The marathon swim has already raised more than £70,000 across the country, with details of how to donate on the challenge website.