FORMER Devizes Leisure Centre staffer George Oliver ran into trouble with his crew just 24 hours into a record attempt on rowing across the Atlantic.

Mr Oliver, who will be celebrating his 27th birthday mid-Atlantic, is trying to break the record of 35 days, eight hours and 30 minutes set by a French crew in 1992.

The six-man crew aboard the Oyster Shack Ocean Challenger set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands last Sunday, but just 24 hours into the voyage they were forced to turn back because of an injury to a member of the crew.

Mr Oliver's father, Richard, who lives in Easterton, said: "We saw them off from La Gomera and the boat was going like a dream. They were doing eight knots and the record is well within their grasp.

"Sadly, they had to make a crew change shortly before they left and it was the replacement member that did his knee in.

"They had to be towed back to La Gomera and they are now regrouping and have a weather window some time over the weekend.

"They have decided they will be going with five members in the crew now. This means they will need to carry less food and the boat will be lighter and faster."

The record attempt has been made more interesting by the fact that the boat which took the French crew to the record time in 1992, La Mondiale, is also making the attempt this time, but with a British crew.

An American boat, Orca, is also in the frame. Orca is a catamaran-style boat, with the crew rowing from the centre section and the sweep of the oars inside the two outriggers.

Mr Oliver said: "This should make it even more interesting, but I still think Oyster Shack is in with a very good chance of breaking the record."