A SWIMMER from Port Glasgow took the plunge for two tough open water events in aid of charity.

Mark Meahan took part in the annual Clyde Swim before heading to the waters in Henley near London for a 14km race.

Poor conditions at the Clyde Swim meant it had to be re-routed along the Esplanade from the Royal West of Scotland Amateur Boat Club to the Ocean Terminal instead of going from Kilcreggan to Greenock.

But the weather and the changes failed to blow the 19 competitors off course, including Mark, who finished in third place.

The 20-year-old Inverclyde Masters member took on the double-header in tribute to former schoolteacher Louise Newman, from Gourock, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2011.

Mark, who is a lifeguard at Gourock Outdoor Pool, went extra lengths to help Louise’s fundraising appeal for charity MS Scotland because he will be away on holiday when she stages her annual fun swim event on Sunday 30 August.

He told the Tele: “Louise is always in the pool and talking away to me and I thought I would do something for MS Scotland.

“She does her charity day at the end of the season and I went last year and a couple of times before that.

“But I will be on holiday when it’s happening this time so I did this to try and make up for it.” Mark, who is studying naval architecture and ocean engineering at Strathclyde University, said: “It was a tough challenge but it’s good to do something for charity.” The swimmer has raised hundeds of pounds on his online JustGiving page and hopes people can continue to dig deep and help a worthy cause.

To sponsor Mark visit www.justgiving.com/Mark-Meahan