Rowers finish gruelling challenge

The four rowers passed Tower Bridge at 1115 BST on Monday

A team of four men have become the first to row all the way around Britain without stopping.

The three soldiers and one civilian, led by Lt William de Laszlo, 26, of Alton, Hants, reached Tower Bridge on Monday morning after nearly 27 days.

The challenge is said to be more difficult than rowing across the Atlantic, due to winds and currents.

The rest of the team are: Lt Ben Jesty, 24, of London; Sgt James Bastin, 34, of Gloucs; and Will Turnage, 25, of Hants.

Lt de Lazlo said their overwhelming feelings as they crossed the line were exhaustion and relief.

The four rowers passed Tower Bridge at 1115 BST on Monday

"We're just looking forward to more than two hours sleep a night and no rowing," he said.

"Keeping ourselves motivated these last few weeks has been really hard, especially in 50mph headwinds.

"It's great to be home."

He said they were desperately looking forward to their first shower for a month.

"One baby wipe per person per day is not enough."

They survived a scare on Sunday when they hit a sandbank off the Essex coast.

During their journey, the three Grenadier Guards - based at Windsor, Berkshire - and company director Will Turnage, from Lymington, rowed an average of more than 70 miles a day.

The crew braved force eight gales and 50ft waves in the Irish Sea.

Two oars were smashed when a rogue wave flipped their boat off Scarborough.