A PENSIONER has raised £420 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by swimming 64 lengths of her local pool.

Margaret Race, 70, of Linden Road, Skeeby, near Richmond, swam non-stop at Richmond Swimming Pool.

The achievement is all the more impressive as she only learned to swim five years ago to keep herself busy.

The pensioner also keeps an allotment, enjoys needlework and is an amateur artist.

Alan Davis, fundraising co-ordinator for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: "I can't praise her enough.

"This was a sterling and very brave effort, made all the more remarkable because she swam non-stop."