THREE brave Okehampton men and one ex-resident came together when they took on a kayaking expedition on the River Dart for charity.

Mark Johnstone, Dom Vandendorpe, Ed Jennings and former Okehampton College teacher Tony Rundall volunteered for the challenge, which raised more than £800 for Help for Heroes.

The team drove their LandRover to south of Okehampton Army Camp, where they kayaked the River Dart from its source on the moors, near Cranmere Pool.

Organiser of the adventure Tony Rundall said dragging the kayaks across the moors was hard work: 'The army had given approval for the venture, while acknowledging the absurdity of the expedition!

'The head of the East Dart lay beyond a long uphill stretch of barren tundra and hordes of youngsters on Ten Tors training looked totally bemused as they passed us miles away from any water — but it was found!'

The team headed towards Postbridge, where they continued their hard slog for several hours.

Mr Rundall said: 'We did manage to float under the road to be greeted by a host of waving supporters on Clapper Bridge, before we continued on towards Dartmeet.

'It was getting late and the decision was made to make Dartmeet the end of the adventure.

'It had been an exhausting twelve-hour trip, but a real achievement — if a little bonkers!'

Anyone who wants to donate towards Help for Heroes can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Tony-Rundall">www.justgiving.com/Tony-Rundall