A Trowbridge man who is working in Afghanistan spent more than 11 hours on Christmas Day on a rowing machine to raise money to support his colleagues in the Army.

Nigel Cathrew carried out the charity challenge in aid of Help for Heroes after being inspired by the servicemen in the Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Tarin Kowt in the Uruzgan Province, where he is based until he returns home in February The 46-year-old, who cannot disclose what work he does alongside the Army for security reasons, said: “There was not much else to do on Christmas Day over here, so I thought I would make myself useful by doing the sponsored 100km rowing challenge.

“I was deployed back in November and decided I wanted to take up the challenge.

“I had previously done this challenge about 17 years ago while on a tour in Northern Ireland, although the years were kinder to me then.”

Mr Cathrew served in the British Army for 23 years until 2005 after which he joined a private British company that supports Army operations across the world.

He is now working with a number of Australian personnel and has decided to split the money he raises between Help for Heroes and a similar charity that supports soldiers in Australia.

When he is not serving abroad, Mr Cathrew lives in Studley Green, where he grew up. He has won the support of some of his local pubs – The Farmhouse at Southwick, The Black Horse in Frome Road and The Wiltshire Yeoman in Chilmark Road all have collection tins.

More than £1,500 has been raised so far, but Mr Cathrew has set a target of £2,500. He said: “I choose Help for Heroes because I see the good work the people I am with over here do and it is a very good cause.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at www.bmycharity.com/TKonehundredKrow