AN Accrington man was taken to hospital in Kendal after completing a gruelling swim of Windemere.

Mark Blewitt, 33, Limefield Street, was swimming in the Windemere Two-Way race in which competitors swim the length of England's largest lake twice.

Mark swam the 21-mile course in a time of 14 hours and 22 minutes. After crossing the finishing line, Mark had to be carried to the lakeside suffering from exhaustion. Mark, a member of Burnley Bobcats and Haslingden swimming clubs, was taken to hospital for observation but later released.