GRANDAD George Cann and his 12-year-old granddaughter Livvy battled Force 5 winds to swim from Saltash to Torpoint to raise money for a cancer charity.

The 3km swim was scheduled to take less than two hours on an outgoing tide, but the strong winds created rough sea-like conditions on the River Tamar.

The pair had been training three times a week in the sea off Cawsand and were prepared for the long swim, but admitted that they had never experienced conditions like they were met with on the day.

At one point, near Wilcove, the conditions were so bad they had to be taken onto the safety boat provided by Torpoint Mosquito Sailing Club (TMSC).

But they were soon back in the water ready to complete the swim.

They were greeted at the ferry slipway in their home town of Torpoint by family and friends who cheered them in.

George said after the swim: 'We had to get out of the water at one point because it was so rough, but the rest was brilliant. I must thank the kayakers who were with us all the way and especially the TMSQ safety boat. I do not think we could have managed without them.'

The swim was raising money for Myeloma UK because George's wife Colleen is receiving treatment for the myeloma, a type of cancer. She said: 'I am so proud of them, Livvy is so brave. We expected to raise £500 but we have more than £900.'

Livvy added: 'It was so hard. It was the worst conditions I have ever swum in.'