A 69-YEAR-OLD has completed the Great North Swim to raise more than £400 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

Phil Litherland, from Atherton, raised £421 by taking part in the mile-long swim in Lake Windermere to thank the Hindley-based hospice for helping a close friend.

“The swim itself wasn’t too bad but I got to about 50 metres from the finish and kept on but it just didn’t seem to get any nearer," said Phil.

"It’s different swimming in open water because there is a swell so I did lots of training but I was lucky to have a good sunny day.”