A Norfolk rower has pushed himself to the limit to become a record setter after winning the world's toughest rowing race with three friends.

Angus Barton, who lives just outside Diss, crossed the finish line in Antigua yesterday after completing an epic 3,000 mile transatlantic challenge, in just 37 days, nine hours and 12 minutes – beating the previous record by four days.

After setting out from San Sebastian in the Canary Islands on December 20, Mr Barton, 25, Jack Mayhew, Angus Collins, Joe Barnett and their boat Ocean Reunion, were the first of 25 teams to step foot on Antiguan soil in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Mr Barton admitted before he left that he often suffers from sea sickness and is a terrible swimmer. The crew would have endured 40C heat, tropical storms, 40ft waves and sleep deprivation, but were pushed along by the thought of raising £50,000 each for the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Skipper Mr Collins said: 'We're ecstatic to have won the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge and this huge welcome in Antigua has blown us away. It was incredibly tough and we're so glad it's over but it was such a fantastic experience. I wouldn't do it again in a hurry but if any of these guys asked, I'd absolutely do it again.'