The intrepid team of Cornish gig rowers who earlier this year successfully completed the first ever Row Round Cornwall have handed over an impressive £13,000 to the RNLI and Charlestown Rowing Club.

The rowers gathered at St Austell Brewery to officially hand over cheques to both charities, with the money being evenly split between the RNLI's Train one, save many crew training appeal and Charlestown Rowing Club's project to create a new boat shed, clubhouse and community building for the village.

The nine-strong team from Charlestown Rowing club, led by St Austell Brewery's Head Brewer Roger Ryman, successfully completed the 300-mile odyssey in May. They setoff from Charlestown harbour, near St Austell, in their traditional Cornish gig Tormentor' and arrived back eight days later.

The team spent the evening stop-overs at St Austell Brewery pubs in each of their ports of call around the coast, with the Brewery meeting the cost of the accommodation and working with each of the pubs to organise fundraising events, including auctions and live music.

Dave Nicoll, RNLI Area Fundraising Manager for Cornwall said: "We are extremely grateful for the money the team have raised. Every £1,000 raised is enough to train one volunteer for a year so it is great to say we can give six volunteers the very best training and education for a year as a result of the Charlestown team's hard work and effort."

Shane Sullivan, Chairman of Charlestown Rowing Club and a member of the successful crew said: "We're all incredibly proud that a crew from Charlestown was able to take on and complete this uniquely Cornish challenge.

"The money raised has exceeded our expectations and helps the whole club get nearer to our goal of raising enough money for the Charlestown clubhouse and community building appeal."