Team of rowers in Christmas celebratory swim

The Toby Wallace Crew, made up of seven rowers including 47-year-old Steve Harpin from Shrewsbury and skipper Simon Chalk from Loggerheads, spent Christmas Day battling hot temperatures and celebrating the day with a cooling swim in the sea.

The team has been rowing the 3,000 nautical mile journey from Gran Canaria to Barbados, hoping to reach the finish line within 32 days to break the world record - a deadline the team has now missed.

But despite missing out on the record title, the team celebrated Christmas at sea.

Gemma Chalk, of Oceanus Rowing, organisers of the row, said: "It was certainly a memorable one for the Toby Wallace crew - one they will probably look on fondly next year and in years to come.

"But unfortunately it was a hard day rowing in very hot conditions and little wind.

"They did stop and had a quick swim to mark the occasion and everyone had the chance to ring loved ones at home to wish them Merry Christmas.

"It was a slow day rowing 56nm in 24 hours – but the weather is due to improve at the weekend so fingers crossed for the crew.

"They did however hace an early Christmas present on Christmas Eve in the form of about 50 dolphins surrounding the boat as they rowed.

The team set off from Gran Canaria on November 25 and were initially racing against a second crew, The Oystershack, but the rivals were forced to abandon their row when the bow became damaged.

The remaining team is now about 600nm to the finish line and the boat's progress can be tracked online.

Mr Harpin is using the challenge to raise money for the Bickerstaff Endoscopy Unit at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital. He hopes to hit £5,000 on his return.

To follow the Toby Wallace's progress visit www.oceanusrowing.co.uk/atlantic-ocean-rowing.

To donate to the Bickerstaff Endoscopy unit at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital visit www.justgiving.com/Stephen-Harpin