Somerset 12-year-olds become youngest team to swim Channel

A group of 12 year-olds from Taunton School in Somerset have become the youngest ever team to swim across the Channel.

The boys and girls braved rough seas and completed the 22 mile crossing in under 13 hours.

They swam in relays overnight to raise money for The Neonatal Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital.

The squad began endurance training in September 2018 with acclimatisation training at Wiveliscombe outdoor pool over the Christmas holidays. Since then they have been training in Clevedon, Brixham and Lyme Regis, several times a week.

During August, they completed the Clevedon Long Swim and the following day took on The Chestnut Appeal Plymouth Breakwater Swim.

They began night swimming training in Lyme Regis a few weeks ago.