Two pals took to the water in the name of charity after a drunken bet spiralled out of control.

Best friends Craig Murray, 24, and Alex Williams, 25, donned their swimming shorts at Hampton Pool on Wednesday evening, raising more than £400 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The race was organised by friends after the pair drunkenly bet each other over a six length race.

In the end, they faced off in two races, with Craig triumphing in the one-length sprint and Alex taking the six-length title.

Mr Murray, of Stanford Close in Hampton, said: “We did have a race some years ago and, to be honest, I have no memory of what happened.

“I haven’t done any physical exercise in about 10 years and I do so little walking, I’m on first name terms with the taxi driver.

“That was possibly why it was such an evenly-matched contest - we are the least fit out of our group of friends so I think it was always going to be a close one.”

He added he had done absolutely no training in the lead-up to the race.

Mr Williams, of Ringwood Way in Hampton Hill, admitted the night’s events had left him exhausted but satisfied.

He said: “It is obviously a fantastic cause and I think it is around the £500 mark now.

“Me and Craig are both very unfit so we did struggle a bit but it was very enjoyable.

“We did have a swimming race in the past and I have always said that I won but Craig won’t admit it.

“We never thought this would actually happen but our friends kept pushing us and sorted it all out.”

With every great sporting showdown comes talk of a rematch.

Craig said: “I think it is definitely a possibility but maybe not swimming next time.

“There was a good turn out and hopefully we could do something similar in the future.”

To find out more about Great Ormond Street Hospital and how to donate, visit gosh.nhs.uk.