Swimmers from BBC Radio Solent and BBC South Today have taken the plunge for Pudsey to raise money for BBC Children In Need.

Friday saw the team swim the final 470 lengths of 1,545 to complete their 24-mile challenge.

The big finish was completed by South Today’s Ed Sault, Radio Solent presenters Steve Harris and Lucy Ambache, apprentice Saffron Finch and sports reporter Rob Sills.

The five completed their lengths at Two Riversmeet in Christchurch, Dorset, shortly before 10:00 GMT.

Their efforts form part of The Thousand Mile Challenge where teams from BBC radio stations swapped their studios for swimming pools to cover 1,000 miles (1,609km) by the end of Friday.

BBC Radio Solent presenter Katie Martin, who hosted the station’s breakfast show poolside, she said she found herself wiping away a tear as the swimmers finished.

“I am so proud of them.. what a phenomenal effort,” she said.

Dorset Breakfast Show presenter Harris said: “I’m really elated to be part of something big.

“I had to do just over 300 lengths we, our little team, had to do 24 miles, and overall that contributed to the 1,000 miles.

“…that is what Children in Need is. We all do our bit, whatever we can, and together we can achieve something monumental.”

With an injured arm, afternoon presenter Ambache swam her lengths with an inflatable llama and Pudsey ears over her swim hat.

She leapt into the pool after saying “it will hopefully keep me afloat” but ended up upside down briefly before setting off.

Admitting she was not the “engine” of the team, she said “I was doing it for the middle lane swimmers for such great reason”.

After a slight hiccup when his goggles flew off, South Today’s Sault was soon motoring up and down the pool.

“I am elated and buzzing.. but I am going to miss this next week,” he said afterwards.

With dozens of lengths still to complete and the clock ticking at 09:15 the team brought in “super sub” Sills.

He said: “It was brilliant to come off the bench and to be part of such a fantastic achievement.”

The sports presenter swam for newsreader Michael Coombes, who kicked the challenge off on Monday.

Finch said the target for the “major feat” at the beginning of the week felt a little bit daunting.

But after hearing “cheers all along the poolside” and finishing the swim “with a whole school beside us with Pudsey ears on made it so much fun”.