Thousands of pounds has been raised for research into breast cancer after five Abingdon School pupils and head of biology Dr Tim Gunn paddled kayaks 104 miles down the Thames to Westminster Bridge.

Three two-man crews set off from Abingdon at 7am on Saturday morning.

Dr Gunn, 51, from Fordwells, near Witney, said: "It was an exhilarating but tiring experience for us all.

"There were a few blisters and bad backs about but we're recovering now.

"We set ourselves a target of £1,600 in sponsorship but more than doubled that to £4,000," he added.

The other crew members were Tom Sykes, 17, of Dorchester, Robert Clegg, 16, from North Stoke, Michael Holman, 17, from Oxford and Tom Wilson, 17, from Sandford on Thames, and Stewart Jackson, 16, from Goring.

The money they raised will go to the Oxfordshire-based charity Against Breast Cancer based at UKAEA Harwell.