Hundreds take on bikini challenge

More than 300 women were photographed in bikinis in Redcar

Hundreds of women braved the British weather and stripped down to their bikinis to be photographed on a Teesside beach.

But the event at Redcar beach failed to beat the existing world record of 1010 women in bikinis which was set on Bondi Beach, Australia, in September 2007.

The 320 women who took part, including an 81-year-old, helped raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance.

The event's organiser described the atmosphere as "fantastic".

Mike Robson, chairman of fundraising at the Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, said: "The rotary club traditionally do dances and quizzes, it's all the same.

"I thought 'it's time we do something different'.

"I mentioned it to the club and their jaws dropped but then they saw the double challenge of the Guinness World Record and the fundraising element for the air ambulance and everyone worked their socks off."

He added: "It was electric. The atmosphere was fantastic."