TWO rowers from the New Forest are celebrating today after defying the odds and completing an epic 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic.

Greg Bailey, 27, and his half-brother, Jude Massey, 19, arrived in Barbados last night after taking 53 days to complete their gruelling journey from Gran Canaria.

Jude Massey is claiming a Guinness World Record for the youngest ocean rower to cross any ocean in a team of two.

Greg's girlfriend, Francesca Marzullo, 24, said: "It's so surreal to have them here and be able to touch them and have a conversation for more that five minutes.

"They look so different, so raw and authentic - such beautiful souls."

Their mother, Alexandra Massey, when I said 'goodbye' to them at the airport in Gran Canaria, I walked away thinking 'will I ever see them again?'

"To have them back is a dream come true. I'm incredibly proud of them and their determination to continue through the worst conditions. It's the best Mother's Day present a mum could have."

The Lymington-based duo are bidding to raise Β£100,000 for the British Skin Foundation following the death of Hampshire businessman Peter Massey - Jude's father and Greg's stepfather - who passed away in 2015 after battling skin cancer for 16 years.

During their voyage they suffered a dramatic capsize, several equipment failures and painful injuries caused by round-the-clock rowing.

Jude was hit in the face by a flying fish and at one point they were followed by a group of sharks.

Dubbed the Ocean Brothers, the two men will return to Hampshire aboard the cruise ship Britannia which is due to dock in Southampton on March 30.

Later that day they will row up the Lymington River to attend a triumphant homecoming at Lymington Yacht Haven.