EIGHT boxers from Darlington have proved they are some of the toughest men in the country after completing a charity challenge.

The team from Darlington Boxing and Martial Arts Academy beat the Gurkhas and Royal Marines to win the recent Tough Guy challenge.

And in doing so they raised about £4,500 for four-year-old Lewis Addy, who suffers from cerebral palsy.

The boxers won the team event when they crossed the finish line in 16 hours 57 minutes after completing different parts of assault courses used by the Navy, Marines, SAS and paratroopers on the Staffordshire moors.

Paul Hamilton, owner of the academy, said: "To win the team event you had to get the first eight members of your team over the line and we had the fastest time.

"The Gurkhas were two and a half minutes behind us and the Royal Marines came third. The Gurkhas had 28 members in their team and we only had eight so we had to get over the line quickly.

"The challenge started with nine miles cross country and then the assault courses were spread out. There were rope climbs, six-foot water pits and underwater concrete tunnels shaped at different angles.

"You constantly had to climb in and out of the water, which was freezing. It took your breath away. We have raised about £4,500 for Lewis which is fantastic. I will be competing next year again because I know I can beat our time."

Lewis, who lives in Selby, is totally dependent on the help of an adult to sit, crawl, walk and play with his toys.

The team members were Mr Hamilton, Carl Hall, Graeme Jinks, Rick Jackson, Carl Robson, and included three Durham Constabulary police officers Neil Walton, from Darlington police, Gary Davison, from Bishop Auckland police, and Owen Turnbull, from Spennymoor CID.