MORE than 150 people took part in an annual swimming marathon in Darlington to raise money for cancer charities.

The BT Swimathon, taking place at more than 500 pools across the country, aims to raise more than £2m this year.

The Darlington event, which was held at the town's Dolphin Centre on Saturday and Sunday, was the biggest and best so far, according to organisers.

Between them, the swimmers pledged nearly £6,000 for cancer charities.

The oldest participant was 81 and the youngest a seven-year- old boy.

Mike Crawshaw, leisure manager at the Dolphin Centre, said: "Duncan Goodhew came to the Dolphin Centre to promote the event in January, and this really helped raise the Swimathon's profile in Darlington. Because of that, we are hoping for a 50 per cent increase on the money raised last year."

Cancer-related charities benefiting from the money raised will be Macmillan Cancer Relief, Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Prostate Cancer Charity. Other groups to benefit will be the BT Disabled Swimming Programme, BT/IRSM Gold Pool Award Scheme and the Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain.