AN OBSERVER photograper and his pal went on a marathon underground trip to raise cash for a worthy cause.

Observer photographer Mike Swift and his friend Fin Gordon from Oxfordshire completed 256 of the official 270 stations on the London Underground network last month.

The marathon effort took 18 hours 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

It started at Chesham Station at 5.15am and finishing at Heathrow Terminal 5 many hours and 'Mind The Gaps' later.

The duo intend to return to London in the near future and pick off the other 14 just to say they have visited them all.

Mr Gordon managed to raise cash from the venture to donate to the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Charity who are trying to build a children's hospice for Berkshire in Maidenhead.

Money raised exceeded the £1,000 target.

Mr Swifty did all the route planning and the timings for the adventure.

They are both planning next year's attempt with the mission to complete all 270 in a day.

Mr Swift added: "We might even try and break the world record for completing them all which stands at 16 hours and 20 minutes!.

They plan to present the money to the charity at their White Waltham Headquarters later this month