SEVEN intrepid Wiltshire Women's Institute members are today due back on dry land after four days on the high seas aboard the tall ship Sir Winston Churchill.

Pat Rodger, Maggie Roberts and Sue Hillier from Boxlea WI, Wendy Wallington from Malmesbury, Sheila Brown from Old Sarum, and Caroline Gunning and Gillian Perrot from Wroughton are among 39 WI members from all over the country to crew the sailing ship which left Portsmouth on Sunday.

It was bound for the Channel Islands, under the command of five professional sailors, and was due to return to Southampton today.

Pat Rodger, the Wiltshire Federation of WIs' press officer based at their Devizes HQ, said before the group departed: "I call it my Millennium challenge.

"I've never been on board a ship this size before but we are all looking forward to it.

"I know the weather's not looking promising but one way or another it will be a trip to remember."