A plucky fundraiser has made a splash after swimming the length of the English Channel to help a good cause.

Just hours after pulling her final stroke of the Aspire challenge on Tuesday, Anne Stone, 42, said she was delighted to reach the finish line.

Anne’s undertaking of the challenge, which incuded her swimming more than 1,700 lengths of her local pool, also raised around £150 for people paralysed by spinal cord injuries.

She said: “It was very much a personal challenge but I met lots of people who knew what I was doing.

“My mother and sister were there when I completed the final length with some posters.

“I’m planning on doing it again next year as well, and continue with the swimming in general as it is a great way to maintain fitness.”

Anne, who was suggested by her physiotherapist to start swimming again some time ago to help her rehabilitation process after damaging her foot, was thankful for being allowed to use the Jurassic Fun Centre pool at Burton Bradstock free of charge during the challenge.

“I returned to the pool after I had finished the challenge and took in some cakes just to say thank you to everyone for their help.”

“They have said I should continue swimming there.

“They said that as I had made it to France I should swim back home now,” she joked.