BBC Essex team complete Children In Need Big Swim

Lois Worrow, Claire Sawyer and James Patient were part of the five-strong Essex team

A group of journalists from BBC Essex have completed a swim challenge for Children in Need.

Teams from BBC radio stations across the UK have been taking on The Thousand Mile Challenge throughout the week, with Essex tallying a total of 25 miles (40km).

The Essex group was made up of sports editor Victoria Polley, BBC Upload's Rob Jelly, news editor Claire Sawyer, late breakfast producer Lois Worrow and sports journalist James Patient.

Pupils from the Elm Green School in Little Baddow cheered the team-of-five as it swam its final laps – and even Pudsey was tempted to dip his toes in the water.

The team wore Pudsey ears and shirts on the final day of the challenge

Each team member swam 70 pool lengths each over five days at Riverside Leisure Centre in Chelmsford.

"I'm feeling quite tired, when I got out my legs were like jelly," Lois told BBC Essex after swimming her final lap.

"It was amazing, the atmosphere was so lovely, with all the school children cheering us on."

Moments after the team reached the finish line on Friday morning, BBC Upload's Rob said: "Anyone can do it... if you put your mind to it.

"These four human beings I've swum with this week have been amazing."

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

Pudsey joined the celebrations on the last day of the Essex team's Big Swim