A DUNMOW Masters Swimming Club member finished the last leg of a cross- Channel attempt to fulfil a pledge to his friend. Setting off in the early hours of last Thursday morning, Murray Fraser and three friends completed their 22-mile relay swim from Dove

A DUNMOW Masters Swimming Club member finished the last leg of a cross- Channel attempt to fulfil a pledge to his friend.

Setting off in the early hours of last Thursday morning, Murray Fraser and three friends completed their 22-mile relay swim from Dover to Calais in 14 hours and 14 minutes.

The team raised more than �7000 for the Rosie at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. The neo-natal unit holds a place in the heart of Mr Fraser's friend, Tony Naughton, by providing specialist maternity care for his wife Rebecca during the birth of their son Lewis.

"I was talked into doing it but it was really exhilarating - I'll definitely do it again," said Mr Fraser.

"I was frightened when the massive ships crossed our path and I kept losing sight of the support boat."

Mr Fraser took on the challenge with fellow swimmers Mr Naughton, Peter Beatty from Bishop's Stortford and Jon Spriggs from Billericay. They worked in a relay swimming for an hour each in temperatures as low as 14C.

The team started shortly after 1.30am and pushed on through the day until finally reaching France at 15.45pm, when 41-year-old Mr Fraser, the youngest member of the team, climbed up onto the rocks at Cap Gris Nez to claim a successful Channel crossing.

"I didn't anticipate the freezing 'warm' up swims in Dover harbour," said Mr Fraser.

"When we were out of the water we cheered our team mates along, munched on Mars bars and tried to keep warm under blankets and sleeping bags."

For more information on Dunmow Masters, which swims at the leisure centre on Wednesday evenings, contact Matthew Hodge on 07736 477219.