Only 20 people can say they have completed the world’s hardest triathlon - and that list now includes charity fundraiser Paul Parrish.

The father-of-two became the oldest person to complete the gruelling Arch to Arc event last month - and become the 20th person to complete the event since it began in 2001.

Mr Parrish took part in the exhausting challenge to raise more than £20,000 for Stanmore-based charity Aspire, which he works for and which provides practical help to people who have been paralysed by a spinal cord injury.

The money will enable the charity to provide seven made-to-measure lightweight wheelchairs for people with spinal injuries.

The Arch to Arc starts with an 87-mile run from Marble Arch to Dover, followed by a swim across the English Channel, and finally, cycling the 180 miles to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Paul, who lives in Kingfisher Close, Wheathampstead, said: "I am absolutely delighted to have successfully completed the Arch to Arc. The sense of achievement has yet to set in.

"However, I have been humbled by the hundreds of messages of support I received from all over and that sustained me during my darker moments. Even more than this was the generosity of people who donated to Aspire before and during the event.

"My crew kept me updated with fundraising totals and it was the selfless giving that ensured I would not give up."

The 49-year-old finished the challenge with the sixth-fastest overall time of 84 hours 44 minutes.

Paul started his Arch to Arc challenge at 8pm on Saturday, September 13, setting off from Marble Arch and arriving in Dover 21 hours and 55 minutes later.

He began his swim across the English Channel at midday on Monday, September 15, finishing at Wissant at 5.25am on Tuesday after swimming for 17 hours and 25 minutes.

At 1pm he set off on the 180-mile cycle ride to Paris arriving at the Arc de Triomphe on Wednesday, September 17, after cycling for 20 hours 44 minutes.

Paul, who was previously director of fundraising at Grove House in St Albans, said he was inspired after meeting Paula Craig MBE, who was left paralysed after a cycling accident and has since gone on to become the first female athlete to have completed the London Marathon as an able-bodied and wheelchair athlete.

He added: "Swimming the Channel was by far the hardest part of the event both mentally and physically. Nothing will ever top the feeling of reaching land in France after the channel swim. Needless to say the Parrish family will not be having a seaside holiday next year.

"I am thrilled to have raised money for some really crucial equipment."