Four exhausted men arrived back at the clubhouse of Royal Norwich Golf Club last night after completing 24 hours of driving, pitching and putting.

The quartet took to the fairways of the club, in Drayton High Road, at 6pm on Thursday to raise funds for four charities.

They played through the night using fluorescent golf balls and continued through until 6pm last night, where they were met by family and friends before enjoying a party.

Organised by the club's golf manager, Simon Youd, 36, from Hellesdon, the idea of the challenge was to do something that would push them all physically and mentally.

He was joined in taking on the challenge by Brian Belshaw, 43, from Hellesdon, Roger Wood, 39, from Postwick, and James Smart, 42, from Eaton.

Simon said: 'It's gone really well. There's been a lot of people coming to support us and bringing us food and drink but it's been very hard.

'The weather last night (Thursday) was atrocious and between 12 and 4.30 when the balls were just being lit by the lights, it was hard, hard work.

'But then the sun started to come up and the smiles returned to our faces, so everyone enjoyed it.'

The funds raised are still being collected from the party held last night, but the golfers have already raised over �1,000 for their exploits, which will be split between Help For Heroes, Cancer Research UK, Multiple Sclerosis Society and Tommy's pregnancy charity.

James added: 'The weather's not helped but it's been pretty good and our bodies have held up.'

The golf club also held a full handicap stableford competition throughout the week, which cost �3 to enter, and golfers could enter as many times as they wanted, to further the golfers' funds.

To donate to their cause, go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/24hourgolfchallenge

david.freezer@archant.co.uk