THE OLDEST all-female crew to row across the Atlantic will receive an honourary degree from York St John University.

Yorkshire Rows learned to row at the Guy Fawkes Boat Club, in York, and completed the 3,000 mile challenge in 2016.

The four women completed the 3,000-mile challenge by reaching Antigua on their 68th day at sea.

Niki Doeg, Helen Butters, Frances Davies, and Janette Benaddi, left La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 20 December 2015 and reached their destination on February 25 the following year.

The crew encountered a hurricane, power failures and seasickness en-route - and even had to row naked after running out of clean clothes during the crossing.

Their achievement in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge caught the public's imagination was a new world record and the woman have since published a book, Four Mums in a Boat.

A London-based film production company later optioned the rights to their Atlantic adventure.

Their degrees will be presented during York St John University’s graduation ceremonies being held at York Minster.

Other recipients of honorary degrees will include children’s campaigner Baroness Floella Benjamin, actress Dame Penelope Wilton, and Steve Rowe, chief executive of Marks & Spencer.