The wind and the rain didn’t stop hardy sailors taking to dragon boats to race on Fairlop Waters on Sunday.

The Rotary Clubs of Barkingside, Newham and Tower Hamlets held the competition for 14 teams, with each aiming to raise �1,600 for a charity of their choosing.

Despite the torrential downpour, they still paddled their way through 250 metre races on the lake of the country park in Forest Road, Hainault.

Rotary club member Saeed Diwan said: “None of us had rowed before, it was hard work, we were getting hit by the rain and cold water from the lake itself.”

Money raised will go towards a fire engine for Ethiopian town Asella, which has no fire cover and where a school burned down, among other causes.

The winning team was Haart estate agents and the racers were cheered on by Mayor of Redbridge Muhammed Javed.

Eve Conway-Ghazi, the district governor of Rotary London, competed with the Power Dragons team.