A group of Oxford students are hoping to break a world indoor rowing record and raise money for charity at the same time.

Nine students from different Oxford University colleges will take turns to row on a machine for 24 hours in a bid to travel 370,000m, around 230 miles.

All the men taking part are first eight college rowers in their first and second years. Money raised will go towards charities Hands up for Darfur, Make Somebody's Day and the Oxford Adaptive Rowing Club.

Jon Spencer-Smith, a maths student at St Hugh's College, said: "I have crazy ideas and thought it would be great to try and do this.

"We hoped to do it last term, but due to injuries and illness we had to postpone it so we are going to do it on March 8 and 9."

Mr Spencer-Smith, 19, is organising the event at St Hugh's College. He had hoped to take part, but took himself out of the running because he was not fit enough. He will, however, act as a standby.

Mr Spencer-Smith said: "I would like to think our chances of beating the record are reasonable. I have a lot of faith in the guys and think they can do it."

The current Concept 2 record is 366,000m for a team of fewer than 10 people aged under 20.

There is currently no Guinness world record, so the team could become record holders however far they row - as long as the event is recognised by Guinness.