A HOLIDAY park director has taken the plunge to raise more than £5,000 for a cause close to his heart.

Nigel Burt swam 500 lengths at five Hoburne Holiday park pool in one day to boost the coffers of the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

The 55-year-old, who began working for the Highcliffe-based company at the age of 16, started his swim at Hoburne Torbay in Devon at 6am on August 24.

He travelled to Hoburne Cotswold in Gloucestershire before Hoburne Park in Christchurch, Hoburne Bashley in the New Forest and finally Hoburne Naish in New Milton .

During the 375-mile round trip Nigel swam 10,500 metres, finishing shortly before midnight. Hoburne has pledged to raise £100,000 for the children’s charity as part of its centenary year celebrations.

Nigel, of New Milton, said: “It was really tough but the support I received was amazing. I think most people thought I was a bit crazy doing this and they were not far wrong.”

“I really wanted to do something towards our fundraising efforts this year and it had to be something big. So a big swim it was and I am so proud of the total raised.”