A new rowing club in Sidmouth is taking on a £25,000 fundraising quest.

The Sidmouth Gig Club, which formed this summer, wants to raise the money to put its first boat - a Cornish Gig - in the water.

And the efforts appear to have got off to a good start, with £3,000 raised in under three weeks.

Meanwhile, members are likely to be practising their technique on dry land with indoor rowing machines.

Gig Club chairman Paul Buchanan said he hoped Sidmouth would be able to host a string of regattas throughout the year.

"The sea here is under used," he said. "We are lucky to have such a good sea front, what a great place to watch this sport."

Sidmouth Gig Club already has around 40 members and is expanding fast, with more than a hundred people declaring an interest in joining.