THANKFULLY there was no need for emergency intervention when Dulverton's Dan Stanbury undertook a '999 Challenge' around the shores of Wimbleball Lake at the weekend.

Dan, 35, set himself the target of running nine miles, cycling nine miles and walking nine miles around Wimbleball in aid of Cancer Research UK.

He hoped his efforts might raise around £500 for the charity but the response of friends and supporters has already swelled his fundraising total to more than £1,150.

He completed the 27 miles in the enviable time of five hours: "I started at 8am when it was nice and cool and had finished by lunchtime," Dan said.

It was the first time he had taken on such a mammoth fitness challenge and he said he was pleased with his performance.

"Over the last couple of years I felt I wanted to do something for charity and over the last few years I've also been doing a bit of running so I came up with this challenge to try and push myself and to raise money for charity," Dan said.

He had aimed to complete the challenge in under six hours and said he was thrilled with the amount of money raised so far.

"I can't believe I've done so well!" he said.

People can still support Dan, who works for the family garage GC Stanbury and Son in Dulverton, by making a donation via his online fundraising webpage at http://www.justgiving.com/dan-stanbury2013">www.justgiving.com/dan-stanbury2013.