A police officer who rowed the Atlantic in just 53 days is back, settling into her day job.

Pc Dawn Wood, from Burnham has returned to the Essex Police Marine Unit after she rowed 3,000 miles alone from Gran Canaria to Barbados to raise awareness of plastic pollution.

Dawn, who raised £15,000 for the Marine Conservation Society on the expedition lined back up with her colleagues, who patrol the coastline around Essex, spanning more than 400 miles from the Dartford Crossing to Harwich.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: "Whilst we were on duty with our marine unit, they spoke to various members of the boating community, gathered intelligence and worked alongside UK Border Force to make sure the coastal waters are a safe place to work and live."

Dawn, who heads up her vessel, is one of the most experienced members of Essex Police's Marine Unit.

During a Q&A session, Dawn spoke about the work of her unit, including how it tackles organised crime, carries out nighttime and high visibility patrols as well as supporting the UK Border Force.

She credited Essex Police with helping her gain the experience to be able to take on her challenge.

She was previously commended by Chief Constable BJ Harrington, who secretly arranged an award upon her return to the UK.

Dawn said: "I have been on the marine section for 16 years so that is how I have got all my marine qualifications, so if I hadn't been on the marine unit, I probably wouldn't have got the qualifications and sea experience to actually get out there.

"Probably the fact I was on the marine unit was why I was able to row across the Atlantic."