A YOUNG couple from Meldreth swam the distance to France last Thursday to raise money for a special trip.

Barney Hallawell, 18, and his girlfriend Emma Jones, 17, swam 1,416 lengths of Royston Swimming Pool – which at 22 miles is the same width as the English Channel – to fund Barney’s teaching trip to Guyana in August.

The pair took eight hours to complete their epic swim, and raised �2,000 – a huge chunk of the �5,000 needed.

Ben said: “Physically it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but we were lucky with the current on the day!”

He is to undertake the three peak challenge of Scafell, Snowdon and Ben Nevis in June to continue his fundraising. To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/barneyhallawell.