A TEAM of charity swimmers have tackled the length of the English Channel to raise over £800 for Harlow and Stort Valley Normandy veterans.

But the swimmers from the Citizen and their friends avoided the uninviting Channel sea water and instead swam 22 miles at Ongar Leisure Centre's pool.

The 16-strong group, of varied swimming ability, gathered at the centre last Tuesday.

All sponsorship money collected will help pay for Harlow and District Normandy Veterans Association members (NVA) to return to France next year, where they will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The swim has boosted the total to more than £3,700.

Included in the intrepid team of paddlers were Citizen editor Leigh Tarron, reporters Gemma Hornett and Sue Plester, photographers Vikki Lince, Ken Mears, and Simon O'Connor, and Gazette reporter Eleanor Sully.

Citizen friends who also took the plunge included Ongar Leisure Centre lifeguards Rebecca Bowring, Steve Willis, and Louise Kelley, London cabbie Tony Archer, teacher Ian Adams, Steve Shields, 12-year-old Emma Cockburn and her stepmum Louise.

Many swimmers managed nearly 100 lengths of the 25 metre pool.

Citizen Editor Leigh Tarron said she was delighted their effort would help the veterans on their way to Normandy.

She said: "Swimming 100 lengths each was always going to be a tall order but we were determined to do it. It was especially nice that some of the veterans came along to cheer us on.

"Special thanks must go to the people who helped co-ordinate the swim -- David Jackman, Kirsty Tobin, Gail Crouchman and Kim Ruskin."

Miss Tarron added: "It was great being able to thank the veterans for what they did for this country -- even though it was a small gesture in comparison.

"We're now going to work hard to reach the £5,000 total because we know how much the trip back to Normandy means to them."

Since the Citizen's appeal was launched in June, money raised from donations and collections has reached £2896.30.

If you would like to help the veterans on their way to Normandy, cheques can be made payable to Normandy 99, and sent to the Citizen office at 8 Simon Campion Court, High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4AU.

We will forward them to the NVA. Residents who would like to raise funds should ring Joan Taylor on 725152.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.