A POLICE inspector has completed more than a quarter of the distance of a marathon row without getting his feet wet.

Harry Simpson, 47, of Cleveland Police, set out to complete a million metres on a rowing machine in the police headquarters gym - the equivalent of 600 miles - and has so far rowed 284,000 metres for Comic Relief.

Despite it being plain sailing, the force's community safety officer has no ambition to go out on the water.

He said: "My only problem so far is finding time to do it.

"I'm at the gym during lunch times and when I finish work to make sure I can cover the full distance.

"It is for a good cause and helps keep me fit, but I have no intention of taking to the water for real."

He has worked out that he needs to be in the gym four times a week for the next five months to complete his marathon.

Anyone who would like to sponsor him should telephone (01642) 301238