A CHARITABLE engineer has completed a gruelling triathlon to raise £250 for the Children's Liver Disease Foundation .

Edward Garton, of Skipton Crescent, The Berkeleys, Worcester, smashed his target when he completed the half-ironman distance vitruvian triathlon at Rutland Water, near Oakham, Leicestershire, earlier this month in five hours, 17 minutes and 49 seconds.

The challenge involved a 1,900-metre swim, an 85km bike ride and a 21km run, and his target had been six hours.

The 36-year-old - who is a senior engineer with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Industry Forum - decided to raise funds for CLDF after learning of the vital work carried out by the charity when a young relative underwent a liver transplant.

The child had been diagnosed with a life-threatening liver disease.

He said: "It was a fantastic experience and it's great to know the money raised will help make a difference to the families of the two children diagnosed with liver disease every day in the UK.

"I did hit a couple of low points, once on the bike when I started to feel quite sick, and also mid-way through the run when I seemed to be getting slower and slower.

"I'm chuffed with my time, especially as I'd had some knee trouble in training and hadn't done a lot of running. Mum and dad were there to cheer me on and at the end I was caught between throwing up through exertion and crying with emotion!

"I must be a glutton for punishment as I'm now thinking about doing a full ironman distance event!"