A chief reporter has raised hundreds of pounds for charity after completing a swimming challenge.

Essex Live journalist Ellis Whitehouse made £500 for Marie Curie and Cancer Research UK after taking part in the Swimathon.

The challenge saw Ellis, pictured, completed a 5k swim in 1 hour, 42 minutes and 25 seconds – a personal best for the distance.

He is now hoping to go even further next year.

Ellis told HTFP: “The beginning of 2023 was a tough period, and I was looking for something to channel my energy into and set myself a new goal. I had previously done two Swimathons when I was a teenager for different levels of the Duke of Edinburgh award.

“I’m not the fittest person in the world, but swimming is something I’ve always enjoyed and a challenge for charity was a good excuse to get back into it.

“Training twice a week and steadily building up the distance since January has been brilliant for me; I’ve felt so much better coming off a long swim and seeing the amount I can do increasing – along with very generous donations – was very motivating.

“I ended up finishing with a time of 1 hour, 42 minutes and 25 seconds, more than 12 minutes quicker than my last Swimathon ten years ago.

“I have also managed to raise £500 for the two brilliant charities Marie Curie Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK. I worried that I’d be able to reach £300, let alone add 200 more on top of that.

“I’m absolutely over the moon, and plan to keep swimming. Who knows, an even bigger challenge could be appealing next year.”