Three plucky sisters from Battersea have doubled their fundraising target after swimming the English Channel in just 13 hours, 17 minutes and 10 seconds.

The gruelling 22-mile swim left Alice, 27, Louise, 26, and Emma Shepherd-Walwyn, 24, tired but triumphant team as their watery endurance test has so far raised over £10,000.

All three girls, who are also members of the Latin American Foundation for the Future (LAFF), swam from Dover to Calais on July 31.

Initially, the LAFF swimmers hoped to raise £5,000 for the Azul Wasi, a community-based project near Cusco in Peru, which provides a safe home, basic education and skills training for orphans.

Sarah Oakes, founder of LAFF, said: “'Despite the relief and pride we felt upon completing our swim, the real heroes are the street children the money we raised will help.”

As well as Ms Oakes, 27, and the three Shepherd-Walwyn sisters, two other members of the LAFF, Hannah Barrett, 25, from Solihull, and Tom Parr, 27, from Cambridge, will also took part in the swim.

To sponsor any of the swimmers, or find out more about LAFF’s work in Peru, visit laffcharity.org.uk.

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