Bridlington man wins world's 'toughest' rowing race

A Bridlington man has battled against extremes in physical and mental exhaustion to row the Atlantic in an endurance race dubbed "the world's toughest".

Mike Burton and teammate Tom Salt were the first team across the finish line in Antigua today, more than a month and 3,000 miles after setting off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands at the end of last year.

Rowing in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 53-year-old Burton and 30-year-old Salt, who make up Team Locura, competed in the arduous race to raise money for the Generous Hearts Foundation.

They completed the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 40 days, two hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds.

Mr Burton met Mr Salt in 2010 when they competed in the same crew of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and finished in fourth place.

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge saw 16 teams from around the world start the race on December 4 from the Canary Islands. With two teams airlifted to safety following capsizes and one team rescued by a passing carrier ship, only 13 teams remain in the world's toughest rowing race.

The remaining teams are expected to arrive in Antigua over the next week.

The teams' progress can be followed here.