A YOUNG swimmer has completed a two mile challenge to raise money for charity.

Nine-year-old Lucy Henderson swam 128 lengths of the Louisa Centre pool in Stanley, County Durham, in 92 minutes recently to raise more than £240 for Children in Need recently.

The Collierley Primary School pupil swims four times a week and regularly clocks up 50 lengths per session.

But this was the first time the Leisureworks Dolphin has swum two miles in one go.

Her proud mother, Ali Henderson, from Dipton, said: “She felt great afterwards to have done it. She was over the moon. She absolutely adores the pool and swims four hours a week term time and seven hours a week during school holidays.

“She did not show any signs of struggling. I am really proud of her.

“She wanted to do it last year but she wasn’t such a strong swimming. She wanted to shave her hair off and give it to charity. She has got long blond hair but her grandparents talked her out of that one. With her being so keen on her swimming it seemed the natural thing to do.”

Lucy swam a range of strokes including front crawl, breast and back stroke as well as butterfly.