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BBC team hit halfway mark in Children in Need swim

BBC Pudsey, a human-sized yellow bear mascot wearing a patch over his eye, stands with his arms in the air. Next to him is Edward Sault, a topless man wearing goggles and a swimming cap.BBC
Pudsey Bear perched poolside to watch day three of the challenge

Staff at BBC Radio Solent have surpassed the halfway mark in their goal to swim 24 miles (38.6km) in five days for Children in Need.

South Today's Edward Sault and Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast Show presenter Steve Harris took the plunge at a pool in Bournemouth earlier.

Their efforts form part of The Thousand Mile Challenge, where groups from BBC radio stations across the UK are attempting to swim 1,000 miles (1609km) collectively by the end of Friday.

Together, the pair swam 468 lengths at BH Live Littledown, bringing the running total to just under 17 miles (27km).

Edward Sault in the lane of a swimming pool with his arms in the air in celebration. He is wearing black goggles.
BBC South Today presenter Edward Sault swam 257 lengths

Mr Sault donned his jammers - tight-fitting, knee-length swimming shorts - before diving in at 08:00 GMT.

"I'm feeling amazing, I'm in my zone," he said.

The presenter had eaten a big bowl of pasta on Tuesday night to prepare, and had been snacking on sweets, bananas and hot chocolate throughout the day.

"The first 20 [lengths] I was struggling a little bit because I had a bit of a cold over the weekend," he added.

Steve Harris, a man leaning on the edge of a pool wearing goggles and pursing his lips as if he is sighing.
An exhausted Steve Harris completed 212 lengths of the pool

Comprising of five BBC staff members from across Hampshire and Dorset, the team needs to collectively swim 1,545 lengths of a 25m pool.

But the challenge seems to have sparked a fierce competition between some teammates.

Newsreader Michael Coombes swam 211 lengths at The Quays in Southampton on Monday - a number Mr Sault and Mr Harris strove to outdo.

"That tragically is kind of my goal for the day," Mr Harris said.

Reaching 100 lengths, Mr Harris said he had developed "goggle-ache" and had to order a sugary latte to get him through.

"I'm a little worried that was the easy hundred, and the harder hundred is coming up next," he said.

But he added he would spend the next few hours thinking about "the good that you're doing for Children in Need".

Edward Sault, a man in a swimming pool wearing goggles and a swimming cap, reaches up to shake hands with Steve Harris, a man wearing black swimming shorts, who is standing at the side of the pool.
The pair celebrated as they brought the total lengths swam by the team to 1,075

Tuesday saw Radio Solent Afternoon Show presenter Lucy Ambache and apprentice Saffron Finch swim 396 lengths of the pool at Ravelin Sports Centre, Portsmouth.

The team will return to the lanes on Friday, where they will need to swim the final 470 lengths to complete the challenge.

Sports reporter Rob Sills will join Ms Ambache, Ms Finch, Mr Sault and Mr Harris for the final day at Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre in Christchurch, from 08:00.

To find out more, head to bbc.co.uk/swim.

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