A 99-year-old veteran raising funds for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden has completed his challenge and hailed the public for their generosity as donations topped a staggering £17 million.

Captain Tom Moore had resolved to complete 100 25-metre laps before he turns 100 at the end of this month.

The World War Two veteran, who lives with his family in Bedfordshire, had originally hoped to raise £1,000 for the NHS when he started the challenge last week – but by Friday morning he had raised a total of more than £17 million, donated by more than 650,000 supporters.

After reaching his target, completed with a guard of honour from the 1st Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (pictured below), he said he felt "fine" and was glad to be "surrounded by the right sort of people".

He has received multiple messages of thanks from NHS workers, sports personalities and politicians.