A former soldier from Burnham has raised more than £1,000 for charity by paddling down the River Avon for 24 hours in his parents’ bathtub.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

Kayaking enthusiast Rob Lawrence has so far raised £1,370 for Scotty's Little Soldiers, which provides help and support to bereaved Armed Forces children and young people.

Rob said: "I wanted to do something a little bit different, and the idea just popped into me head.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin BadmanRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin Badman (Image: Justin Badman)

"I had heard others like Bear Grylls had paddled a bath tub so I wanted to give it a go but add an endurance element to the challenge."

The 36-year-old prepared for the challenge doing several practice runs on the Huntspill River and tested out three different bathtubs before finding the one he took on the trip.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin BadmanRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin Badman (Image: Justin Badman)

He said: "In the end I used my parents old bathtub they were getting rid of, the one I use to wash in as a kid."

In the end, Rob, along with his best-friend Justin Badman, travelled 19 miles down river, 17 to Bristol, and then a further two around the docks before heading down to the Cumberland Basin.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

Rob decided to support Scotty's Little Soldiers as he worked with Lee Scott, who the charity is set up in memory of.

Rob said: "I used to be the tank driver for Lee Scott, he was my loader at the time in Iraq.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

"He died a few years later in Afghanistan and his wife Nikki Scott set up the charity.

"I have always been impressed with what they do and so I wanted to help raise some cash for them, and pay respect to Scotty too."

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

After finishing the challenge which Rob claimed was one of the hardest things he had ever done but Worth every ache, the two were bought a pint at a nearby pub by a pair of paddle boarders they had met on the river, and applied a lot of deep heat before heading home when the sun set.

He said: "Once home neither of us could stay awake and we were quickly in bed for a nice 12 hour sleep."

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

Rob said he wanted to thank his mum for putting up with his 'silly ideas and the lack of sleep it gives her.'

He said: "I also want to thank everyone who has donated. Matthew Furey-King for his help and support, and my friends and family who came along on the trip.

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

Rob is still accepting donations via www.justgiving.com

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin BadmanRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Justin Badman (Image: Justin Badman)

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)

Weston Mercury: Rob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex ChristofidesRob Lawrence and Justin Badman raised more than £1,300 for Scotty's Little Soldiers by paddling down the River Avon in a bathtub for 24 hours. Picture: Alex Christofides (Image: Alex Christofides)