A FATHER and son from St Helens joined a group of around 30 people who took to the waterways in dragonboats on a 128-mile journey along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, raising £10,000 for charity.

This is the first time dragonboats have taken part in the Trans Pennine Challenge event, which set off on Monday, May 2 from Liverpool and finished on Sunday (May 8) in Leeds.

There were around 10 people from St Helens in the team - including Stuart and 14-year-old Daniel Abel, who was the rowing team's youngest member.

The Crusaders Dragonboat Club - which counts experienced rowers and novices as members - raised around £10,000 for Merseyside & Cheshire Blood Bikes.

Daniel's mum Kiera said: "I took Daniel's younger brothers James and Ben with me to wave them off. It was raining at the start but the weather picked up after that. They had a great time.

"When they got home they were exhausted but very happy."

Team member Sally Anne Jackson from Newton-le-Willows, said: "It was brilliant, very challenging.

"There were all sorts of incidents along the way - not quite being able to get through locks or swing bridges. At one point we had a police escort as they were carrying out investigations on one stretch of canal.

"We stopped to take part in a regatta near Bradford and two members of the Emmerdale cast joined us - John Middleton who plays the vicar Ashley Thoms and Chris Chittell who plays Eric Pollard.

"The countryside along the way was spectacular and people were very supportive - people were donating money and pubs were laying on tea, coffee and sandwiches.

"And the weather was glorious so we got through gallons of sun cream!"

The event took in St Helens, Wigan, Tarleton and Leigh before travelling through Blackburn, Burnley and Nelson. Nearing Leeds, the boats passed through Gargrave, Skipton, Bingley and stopped off near Bradford for a regatta.

To donate to Blood Bikes, go to crowdfunding.justgiving.com/beth-quirk.