BBC staff begin Children in Need swim challenge

The local team features (clockwise from top left) Jem Westgate, Sophie Rumsby, Jordan Brooks, Dan Freeman, and Sophie Law

Five members of staff from BBC Radio Oxford have begun their swimming challenge for Children in Need.

Groups from BBC radio stations across the UK are taking part in The Thousand Mile Challenge with each station attempting to cover 24 miles (38.6km).

The local team includes Breakfast Show presenter Sophie Law and Breakfast newsreader Dan Freeman, who have received advice from gold medal-winning Olympic swimmer Kieran Bird.

The rest of the team is made up of journalists Sophie Rumsby and Jordan Brooks, and apprentice Jem Westgate.

They will each need to complete 63 lengths every day this week at Ferry Leisure Centre in Summertown to complete their task.

Ms Law said: "It was a surprisingly strong start from team Oxford, even featuring some laughing at points… although obviously not from Dan.

"I’m proud of the team for kicking off so well, although many of us already have achy necks, shoulders, or knees after just a fifth of the challenge, so it’s not going to be an easy task at all."

Mr Freeman said: "I felt good after my one and only practice swim two weeks ago but have come back from a half-term trip away with the man flu and am now dreading it."

But he said thinking of the charities who would benefit from the effort would give him a "boost".

"It's largely insignificant, the tiredness and the boredom we're going to go through," he added.

To find out more, head to bbc.co.uk/swim.

Dan Freeman and Sophie Law met Kieran Bird and Pudsey