Fundraising swimmers have doubled their target and raised over £10,000.

Swimmers dived into a 1.5k open sea swim challenge to raise money for the Special Care Baby Unit at Torbay Hospital.

The swimmers went from one end of Blackpool Sands to the other and back again to reach the 1.5k challenge at Blackpool Sands on Saturday, September 22.

Of the 30 swimmers who took on the challenge, a few have used SCBU with newborn babies.

As a team, the swimmers raised £10,183.88 and have said thank you to each and every donation which helped them reach this number.

Heather, a SCBU staff member at Torbay Hospital, looked after both boys when they were in SCBU, pictured above. The staff are now delighted to be able to buy the open incubators for the SCBU.

The swimmers have said a huge thank you to recent business donors Britannia Royal Naval College who sponsored £500, Woodlands Leisure Park for donating 12 annual passes, the 1st Dartmouth Brownies who collected coins in jars to raise £40 and to Bumble in Kingsbridge for raising £98.

Plans have already started for next years swim which will be held in September and have a choice of distances.

If anyone is interested in swimming in next years event or sponsoring the event please contact organiser Liz Riley on [email protected].