SUPERFIT Les Robinson impressed shoppers in Colne after rowing the equivalent of the English Channel in full British Army battledress and helmet.

The young-at-heart fundraiser made the noble effort at Colne's Asda store on Saturday.

He was helping to raise money for the Royal British Legion Welfare Fund to mark the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

The 61-year-old has been in full training since the beginning of the year in a bid to complete a gruelling challenge that he dreamed up himself.

Family and friends turned up at the store to support Les in his bid to raise money to help care for the families of people who were killed or injured during the war.

To spur him on and to help take shoppers back in time to 1944, Les displayed newspaper articles from 60 years ago dated June 7, as well as played a video showing the same year.

The Colne fundraiser said: "I wanted to do something which would attract attention to encourage people to sponsor me which is why I asked Asda if I could do it in the store.

"Plenty of people have been sponsoring me but I've no idea how much has been raised. I am hoping it will be a significant amount to go towards the Poppy Appeal."

He started his rowing challenge in the morning and after just two short breaks he completed the breathtaking 40,000m target by 4.30pm.

Anne Bladon, Asda's customer services manager, said: "Leslie approached us and asked if he could do it at the front of the store when there would be plenty of people around which is why we thought Saturday would be a good day.

"He has received lots of attention from people coming in to the store. People can't believe how fit he is. He has been putting most of us to shame."