Ashby Netball Club completed their 'gruelling and emotional' 75-hour non-stop marathon on Sunday - and raised £54,000 in the process.

The amazing endurance event used more than 260 players - some taking part through the night - from last Thursday onwards.

The cheque presented to Kids' Village founder Sam was for £54,190

Ashby Ivanhoe School's Sports Hall hosted the marathon - which also produced three separate official Guinness Records.

That meant all of the players involved could call themselves world record holders.

As 1pm approached, the epic fundraiser ended to the tune of 'The Final Countdown', sparking wild celebrations among players, officials and organisers alike.

A cheque was presented to the founder of Kids Village, who will benefit from the six-figure sum.

Afterwards, the players were treated to pizza by Zamani's restaurant in Market Street.

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A large crowd gathered to see the final minutes of the netball marathon

Ashby Netball Club's Carla Garey, one of the main drivers behind the marathon, said it had been a memorable effort in more ways than one.

Carla told Ashby Nub News: "I'm so proud of all the participants and the organisers, and we were planning this for months. It didn't just happen like that.

"But it really exceeded our expectations. We expected it to feel tough, but we weren't sure how far people would go with it, how much they'd push themselves. 

"They couldn't step forward enough though. They just really wanted to help. 

"It was gruelling at times, we had tears, we had injuries, we've had blisters, but they just kept going. They kept coming back."

Carla said the night time shifts were the most difficult.

She added: "It feels surreal to think how we just played and played and played. It's weird because there were no windows in there, so after a while, your brain sort of adjusts to the environment, and you don't know whether it's 10 o'clock in the morning or 10 o'clock in the evening. 

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"We said the most fun shifts to cover have been the 7-10pm, then 10pm-1am yeah. They were really well stacked with players. 

"But we also had such a laugh. There's been so many. My face has been aching from laughing and my throat is sore from cheering.

On the Thursday and Friday, in the day, we had quite a lot of corporate teams and a lot of the younger players that are on half term. 

"Then on the Saturday, we had external netball teams that were keen to take a slot. But the challenge was the individual night slots, which have been made up of just people that don't normally play together. 

"It was exhausting. My own son actually was scheduled for 1am to 7am three days in a row. Yeah, I think we broke him. He's probably not speaking to me for a little while!

"But the most important thing was the £54,000 that we raised. 

"We just can't believe it, and we thank every single person that's sponsored us, and we're just so grateful. They're so grateful."

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Sam Fletcher, the founder of Kids' Village, says the netball marathon 'blew the doors off' what she expected it to raise.

She said: "I have nothing but admiration. They were so inspiring. The way Carla has an idea in her head and she pulls things together to create an impact.

"She's inspired us. We're a really tiny team. Kids' Village is family-run with my dad and my mum, and then we've got two people who work for us - we've been bowled over by the incredible effort that they've put in to raise this money. It's amazing.

"This money, will go towards building Kids' Village. So everyone here that's donated is part of it.

Sam Fletcher, the founder of Kids' Village

"What happened was we had a ball, an event in Barton Under Needwood, and Carla's company Saffron catered it. 

"I was talking about Kids' village, and that was it. She said: 'I want to help you build it'. She's inspired by her own story with her daughter, Evelyn.

"A lot of people say that, and they don't do a huge amount, but Carla went and blew the doors off it!"

Ashby MP Amanda Hack, a former netball player herself, praised the fundraising effort - but also said it promoted women's sport and sport in the town.

She said: "The 75-hours world record attempt is an amazing achievement. But then you look at how much money they've managed to raise through this.

"Everyone's involved has just been amazing. When they first set it up, their fundraising goal was much, much lower, but then it captured people's imagination.

"But this will encourage other women to get involved. It was also great to see the men play as well! It was a mixed effort.

"This facility at Ivanhoe School is fantastic as well. Improving sports facilities in Ashby and North West Leicestershire is so important for health, fitness and wellbeing.

"There are hundreds getting involved with grassroots sports and we need to make sure those facilities are available.

"The fact that the school here has enabled this to happen is just brilliant, isn't it? Those kind of things are also going to be important part of that conversation when it comes to sport and infrastructure in the area."