A KAYAKING world record has been slashed by more than two hours after local fundraisers triumphed in a charity challenge. Having set off from Southwold at 3am on Friday, Gorleston GP Dr Simon Worlsey and Hopton man Ian Castro never turned back, rowing the 87-mile journey to Zeebrugge, Holland, in 17 hours and 53 minutes.

A KAYAKING world record has been slashed by more than two hours after local fundraisers triumphed in a charity challenge.

Having set off from Southwold at 3am on Friday, Gorleston GP Dr Simon Worlsey and Hopton man Ian Castro never turned back, rowing the 87-mile journey to Zeebrugge, Holland, in 17 hours and 53 minutes.

It beats the previous record of 20 hours, seven minutes, also held by Dr Worlsey.

The daring duo said they were delighted to have beaten the Guinness World Record in a mammoth challenge in aid of Palliative Care East.

“The water was continuously lumpy

so it was always a bit of a fight for us,” said Dr Worlsey, a GP at Central Surgery.

“The shipping lanes were very busy so we were glad to have our escort vessel, and to bring us back again,” he added.

The record was first broken by Dr Worlsey, 54, with friend Rod Cooke in August 1997, while Mr Castro, 44 and a youth support worker in Lowestoft, completed the journey in 24 hours and 10 minutes in his first attempt.

Any money raised in sponsorship will go towards the �1.5m James Paget appeal, which aims to build a dedicated palliative care centre in the grounds of the hospital. The centre would serve patients from Yarmouth and Waveney who sufferer from incurable disease such as cancer and motor neurone disease.

It is not known how much the duo have raised and people can still donate by visiting http://justgiving.com/

NorthSeaCrossingGuinnessWorldRecordAttempt.

Meanwhile, fundraising events continued to be held across the area in aid of the appeal with the retired ambulance staff hosting a summer fair for palliative care at the North Lowestoft United Reformed Church, opposite Poundstretcher, next Saturday, July 18.

The event, from 10am-3.30pm, will be opened by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard and will also feature a special performance by the Loddon Band at 1.30pm. There will be a coffee morning selling rolls, home-made cakes, scones, stalls offering books, toys, bric-a-brac, crafts, cakes and garden � items, plus estimate the weight of the cake.

Tickets are �2, and include light refreshment in the interval. To book call 01502 582522, or tickets can be purchased on the door.

And the Mia-Lucy Rose Trust and Palliative Care East Summer Ball will be held at Dunston Hall, Norwich, next Saturday, July 18, from 7pm until 1am. More than 200 people are expected to attend this event, which features a champagnes and canap�s reception and auction. There will be entertainment throughout the evening including string quartet Sole Bay Strings.

Tickets are �65 and include meal, wine, champagne reception and entertainment and are available from the Mia-Lucy Rose coffee shop and art gallery on High Street, Gorleston.

For details on transport, if required, call 01493 662250 or 07968 195340.