Four Bristol golfers teed off in the early hours to play 72 holes of golf in one day as part of a record-breaking fundraising attempt.

Dave Dean, 51, an entertainer, from Hanham, took part in the challenge with Mike Hucker, John Gatehouse and Alan Hudson.

They started at Bristol and Clifton Golf Club, Failand at 4.30am, playing at Long Ashton and the Bristol Golf Club, Almondsbury, before finishing in Kendleshire Golf Club in Winterbourne, where the last putt was sunk at 8.24pm.

Mr Dean said: "There were no holes in one and there were lots of lost balls but it was a great day. It was pretty tough getting us all round and we were exhausted by the end of it. We think we must have walked about 18-20 miles as part of the challenge."

The golfing extravaganza was part of the 20 Million Yard Golf Marathon in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Teams of four play four different courses and aim to raise £250 per participant.

"We aimed to raise about £1,000 but we've hit over £2,000," added Mr Dean. "Thanks to all who have contributed and the clubs who let us on the course in the early hours."

The idea of the marathon is that while the foursome makes its way around the first course, up to three other foursomes will have started at the same time on other courses in the local area so at each time up to 16 golfers are playing the same four courses.

The challenge organisers said they aimed to have 50 golf marathons across the country on the same day. The numbers mean 800 golfers play 200 courses, 57,600 holes of golf and a total area of 20 million yards.