TWO men from North-East were among a group of four rowers who smashed the world record for rowing the Atlantic.

The group of amateurs – who have dubbed themselves The Four Oarsmen – completed the 3,000-mile crossing from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua, in the Caribbean, in 29 days and 15 hours.

Having battled sea sickness, 40ft waves, chronic fatigue and even hallucinations they beat the previous Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race record of 35 days.

One high point was a chance encounter with a minke whale and a calf which swam underneath their 26ft fibreglass vessel in the middle of the ocean.

Team member Dicky Taylor, 32, hails from Corbridge and now works in the US as an IT consultant. It was there he met another of the group, Peter Robinson, 32, who was raised in Alnwick and recently returned to Northumberland to work as a farmer.

Along with George Biggar, 32, and Stuart Watts, 34, they raised more than £250,000 for charity in the process.

Half of the money will be donated to Mind in honour of George’s late mother who suffered from mental health problems and the rest to Spinal Research in support of their friend who suffered a spinal chord injury while playing rugby in 2010.

Speaking moments after arriving in the harbour, Mr Biggar said:

“I always felt a need and desire to do something to commemorate mum, and to bring that to fruition and to complete it – to do it such justice in such style with such great support is amazing.”

The 6ft 4in-plus friends were expecting to take 40 days to complete the row – but families of the crew had to rebook flights to greet them as they progressed well ahead of schedule.