TEAMS of soldiers from the Infantry Training Centre, at Catterick Garrison, were really putting their backs into fund-raising for charity yesterday.

Oarsmen from the 3rd Battalion, including Gurkha trainees, were hoping to raise more than £2,000 for the Special Care Baby Unit, at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, and to beat the 100km rowing record along the way.

A "dry" regatta was held in the McKay Gym at Vimy Barracks, with doctors and nurses cheering the rowers on.

It will be a few days before the squad knows how much they have raised. But, despite a valiant effort, the rowing record is still safe - the winning team managed a time of 6hr 6min, two hours shy of the target.

However, 90 people managed to row 1,000km between them, from 9am to 4pm.

"That's better than you could expect in a car," said an Army spokesman.

''Everyone did really well and we are delighted with how it went.''