'We won Race Across the World and this is how we spent the £20,000 prize'

Race Across the World champions Caroline and Tom Bridge have revealed their touching plans for their £20,000 prize money.

The mum-and-son pair competed in the fifth series of the popular BBC show earlier this year, which saw five duos attempting to reach the southernmost point of India after beginning at the Great Wall of China.

The participants, stripped of smartphones and bank cards, depended entirely on the modest budget given to them in order to claim the substantial prize fund.

READ MORE: BBC Race Across the World's Sioned makes relationship admission after 'tough' moment

READ MORE: Ricky Hatton's distraught friend shares first sign that something was wrong

Following a tense finale, Caroline and Tom secured the jackpot after becoming the first team to arrive at the final checkpoint in Kanniyakumari.

Sisters Elizabeth and Letitia finished just 19 minutes behind them, followed by young couple Fin and Sioned, and brothers Brian and Melvyn, reports Plymouth Live.

Speaking on the red carpet at the National Television Awards last week (September 10), Caroline and Tom disclosed how they've spent their winnings.

"I've had to pay off some debts, and Thomas has started a business. It's called Rugga Rural," Caroline said, with Tom adding: "I've started a business selling handmade Indian rugs."

Caroline went on: "And we're doing a lot of charity work, which we love. Because we said in India when people helped us, we said we'd pass it on. We couldn't pay them so that's what we're trying to do."

Looking back on their experience on the programme, Caroline shared that she adopted a winning mentality right from the beginning of their adventure.

"I knew we'd win. I set off with the mindset that if I'm doing this, I'm going to win. But I couldn't tell anybody. We were all competitive, I just had to win," she confessed.

Tom chimed in: "I wasn't quite as confident, I was there just to have fun. But we won and it was great."

Discussing the impact of the show on their relationship, Caroline revealed: "We're very happy to be in each other's company. We cherish the time a bit more because we've gone back to life where we just pass each other, and back to work and things like that.

"But we do cherish our special time together and it's this incredible memory that just can't be repeated. It was just amazing."

Echoing her sentiments, Tom said: "We just make time for each other. We'll go have a coffee or we go to the local pub and have a drink, which we never would have done before. Played backgammon, just spend some time with each other - it's nice."

Caroline wrapped up by saying: "We always end up having a laugh and being able to talk. It's really nice."

Race Across the World is available to stream on BBC iPlayer