Ironman Graham Moates has said that nothing could ever have stopped him from completing his charity triathlon as he battled to raise money for friends and family suffering from cancer.

Mr Moates, 35, of Brynard's Hill, Wootton Bassett, staggered over the finishing line on Friday after a 12-day journey that took him from Land's End to John O'Groats and beyond.

His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in November and during the challenge Mr Moates received the news that one of his friends, also in his 30s, had just been diagnosed with the disease.

Mr Moates, who completed the challenge with three other friends, said: "There was no way I was ever going to give up. The pain I was experiencing was nothing compared to the physical and mental pain of cancer sufferers.

Together the team, one of whom lost his best man to cancer at the age of just 39, has raised over £5,000 for Cancer Research. Their challenge started with a three-mile swim followed by the 900-mile cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats before finally completing a marathon distance run.

On completing the triathlon Mr Moates, who is a member of the Swindon Triathlon Club, and partner Emma Fordham, 34, travelled back to Devon for a celebration of his mother's 60th birthday.