A PAIR of intrepid rowers from Worcestershire who had to abandon their bid to row across the Atlantic after a spate of problems with their boat have set foot on dry land for the first time in 110 days.

Worcester Rowing Club coach Hannah Lawton, aged 25, and Lauren Morton, set off from La Gomera, Tenerife, in December in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge to raise money in memory of a friend who died of cancer.

But they were forced to throw in the towel earlier this month following a series of problems including a fire in their boat’s cabin, their sat-nav breaking down and a broken rudder, and were picked up by a cargo ship headed to Canada.

An update on their Facebook page posted yesterday (Monday, March 23) read: “After 110 days at Sea, the girls have finally set foot on dry land, in Becancour, Canada.

“A huge thank you to Captain Sanjay Jolly and all of the crew onboard Lowlands Opal for looking after Hannah & Lauren so well!

“Now the countdown to being back in the UK begins! #atlanticchallenge”

The two University of the West of England students took on the challenge to raise money for charities Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Myton Hospice in memory of their friend Eleanor Rose Ellis, who died of cervical cancer in May last year aged just 23.

To donate visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/Insfriends.