A Scottish couple who are attempting to circumnavigate the UK mainland in a rowing boat say they are “utterly heartbroken” after bad weather forced them to pause their journey.

Allan Lipp and Mhairi Ross, from Wick, had hoped to become the first mixed pair to complete the challenge unsupported. They had aimed to cover the 2,302 miles (3,706km) in 60 days.

But 80 days into their venture – and about 226 miles (364 km) from home – they have suspended the attempt due to winds gusting to 60mph.

Mr Lipp said they were not abandoning the row completely because they hoped to resume as soon as they possibly could.

The couple are to return to work while they decide how they should proceed.

Mr Lipp maintains and steers RNLI Wick lifeboat in his job as a coxwain mechanic.

His partner Ms Ross is a paramedic and is also an RNLI volunteer.

The couple reached Tobermory on Mull on Scotland’s west coast before suspending their attempt.

The Met Office has yellow “be aware” warnings for gales and heavy rain in place for western coasts of Scotland, England and Wales.

But the couple said conditions for rowing were unlikely to improve for at least another two weeks.

Mr Lipp said: “It has been a very difficult decision to make, but with no break in the weather we have had no choice but to pause the row.

“To be clear, we are not abandoning our attempt, we are pausing it for now, and will return to complete the challenge as soon as we can.

“However, it will not be the unsupported attempt that we had hoped for.”

Ms Ross added: “We are so disappointed, but with the difficult weather conditions that we have already endured, and no sign of any let up in the next two weeks, we have to put safety first and pause the challenge.”

In a post on social media, the couple said: “We are utterly heartbroken that the weather has beaten us, after putting everything into this.”

The challenge has raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

To complete the challenge unsupported they needed carry all their food on board and could not come ashore or even tie up in a harbour.

However, they were allowed to seek shelter and drop anchor in bad weather.