NINE members of Tavistock's Brit Spirit Martial Arts Club have raised almost £1,000 by successfully completing the 10km Royal Marines' Commando Challenge on Woodbury Common last Sunday.

Billed as 'one of the most popular charity events in the UK' the two organisations benefiting are Devon Air Ambulance and the Royal Marines' Charitable Trust Fund.

A wet, muddy team captain, Rachel Kinsella of Mary Tavy, said: 'It was a brilliant experience for all of us — a six kilometre run and four kilometres on the world famous assault course used by all Royal Marine recruits in basic training.

'The challenge has really brought us together, both as a club and as friends, as the RM ethos promotes teamwork — we helped each other through, especially in the scary sheep-dip, total immersion through a tunnel of murky water, helped by welcome military hands!

'After this we're already looking forward to our next fundraising activity in March 2014, a similar demanding event called Rock Solid!'