TWO West Somerset women are believed to be the first ever to swim the eight miles of sea from Minehead to Porlock Weir.

Sarah McLaughlin and Hannah Bays, both from Porlock, raised more than £5,100 from the epic swim for Cancer Research UK.

They completed it in four hours and nine minutes and were met by a welcoming party of friends and villagers as they emerged from the water in Porlock Weir Harbour.

Sarah said the idea came about because she wanted to do something to support the cancer charity before she turns 60 this year.

She said: “I wanted a challenge, and I had had cancer myself twice, and friends and family who were dealing with it and some who did not make it.

“I just wanted to do something, and I fancied swimming from Minehead to Porlock Weir.”

Sarah initially decided to make the swim solo, but her friend Hannah spent so much time helping her to train for the challenge that she also decided to take part.

She said: “I have been swimming for years from Porlock Weir.

“I absolutely love it.

“It just sets you into the right place.

“It is my very calm, happy place.”

The pair were given just two days’ notice that the swim would happen, because support boat skipper Mike Richardson, of Porlock Weir Charters, was monitoring the tides and weather, waiting for the right time.

Sarah told the Free Press: “We could not have done it without Mike and his tremendous amount of knowledge of the waters because he has been sailing them for 30-odd years.”

She said the large number of people who welcomed the pair ashore in Porlock Weir took them by surprise and was ‘quite emotional and overwhelming’.

The online fund-raising is still live for anybody who wants to support the cause.