FUNDRAISERS frantically heaved a Boeing 737 across an eye-watering 50 metres at Bournemouth Airport today.

The annual charity event, which is in its sixth year, saw a series of teams attempt to haul the 32,000kg aircraft using just two pieces of rope and some brute force in front of hundreds of onlookers.

Mark Troughton, of Parkstone, and his team of 20 raised £1,000 for Dorset’s children hospice Julia’s House and said the challenge had left him exhausted.

“It was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be,” he added. “I thought I was quite strong but it was so hard and a big relief when we finished.”

Things went smoothly for most of the groups before several members of Britannia Cross Fit Gym’s team from Portsmouth fell to the floor when a rope snapped as they began tugging.

Sarah Porter, who suffered minor grazes from the incident, was undeterred and the team went back with fresh ropes a few minutes later to pull the plane across the finish line.

She said: “We have waited a long time and come a long way to do this so there was no way I was going to let the rope breaking get in the way.”

Organiser Richard Griffin said he was delighted with how the event had gone despite initial disappointment after the original date was postponed in August due to adverse weather.

“It has been a hard one this year,” he added. “It was an incredibly difficult decision to postpone it.

“But we are raising money for more charities than ever and are already looking onwards and upwards for next year.”