A TEAM of Black Country swimmers have raised £7,400 for the Friends of Alfie Johnson charity after swimming across the English Channel.

Self-employed courier Ryan Coley, aged 36, from Halesowen, IT infrastructure manger Nick Bates-Mudie, aged 34, from Stourbridge, pension audit manager Jenny Knowles, aged 37, from Rowley Regis, 18-year-old leisure attendant Ashley Markall, from Rowley Regis, and 21-year-old stock controller

Adam Horton from West Bromwich completed a five-man relay across the Channel to raise funds for the charity which helps disabled children.

The gutsy team completed the gruelling challenge in nine hours and 58 minutes last month - and as well as raising valuable funds for the charity they became the fifth fastest five-person relay team to ever swim the English Channel.

Ryan Coley told the News: "Each of us swam for two hours on one-hour rotations, apart from Nick who landed the swim in France just shy of his two hours.

"The challenging conditions of swimming partly through the night across the busiest shipping lane in the world against the fear of encountering jellyfish stings was overcome by the overwhelming pride and determination we all had to complete the swim and raise as much money as possible for such an amazing charity."

Anyone wishing to boost their fundraising total can do so by making a donation online at www.alfiejohnsonchannelswim.co.uk. Donations can be accepted until mid November.

The Friends of Alfie Johnson was initially set up ten years ago to help Alfie from Stourbridge after he was starved of oxygen at birth but since his family was awarded a payout to fund care for the rest of his life the organisation has been able to help other children with disabilities across the Dudley and Sandwell area.

To find out more go to www.friendsofalfiejohnson.org.uk.