FIREFIGHTERS from Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade will attempt to row the equivalent of the English Channel to raise money for four local charities.

Two teams of around eight firefighters will take it in turns to row the 26 miles on the stations own Concept 2 rowing machine.

"The fire fighters will be rowing in turns, similar to a relay," said leading fire fighter Dave Smith, one of the firefighters taking part.

"Last year we climbed the equivalent to the height of Everest on an versa-climber. It took about two hours 30 minutes."

The year before that, firefighters posted a piano through a letter box.

This year, Mr Smith expects the challenge to take around three hours, and there will be prizes donated by HP Bulmer of Hereford and Lea & Perrins of Worcester for whoever accurately guesses how long it takes.

The Channel Challenge will begin at 1pm on Monday, August 26, in the car park of The Talbot in the Tything as part of the annual fund-raising Tything Festival.

The event between 2pm and 10pm includes top local bands The Disciples, Shout, Lukash, Come Together and Medford, as well as a Wyvern FM roadshow, an auction and bargain hunt, and a raffle.

All the money raised from the event will be split between the Fire Service Benevolent Fund, the County Air Ambulance, Worcester Talking Newspaper for the Blind, and the Acorns Children's Hospice Trust.