A pair of friends raised more than £300 for a good cause by taking part in a Christmas-themed 25-mile skateboard across London.

Johnny Phillips, 30, from Steeton, and 21-year-old Michael Laidler, from Silsden, completed the five-hour ‘Santa Cruise’ in aid of the charity Children’s Heart Federation.

Sunday’s course took them from Hyde Park Corner to Windsor Castle.

The occasion was organised by a group called Long-boarding for Little Hearts, and was created by the father of a girl who was born with a serious heart condition.

Mr Phillips said more than 40 skaters took part, raising a combined sum of more than £3,000.

“It was easier than we’d expected,” he said. “I didn’t realise how flat it was going to be – skateboarding 20 miles to Leeds is harder than 25 miles in London!

“I was also surprised at how well organised it all was – there were people on in-line skates going ahead to clear the junctions.”

Mr Phillips added: “We were both in costume – I was dressed as a Christmas tree, and Mike was wearing a Rudolph the Reindeer onesie!

“The weather was perfect. It was a nice, crisp, overcast day, which is what you want for skating, and the pavements were dry.”