Woman swims Channel for charity

Ms Moore was covered in grease to protect her body from the cold water

A 26-year-old woman from Berkshire has swum across the English Channel to raise money for a stroke charity.

Victoria Moore, from Slough, left Dover shortly after midnight on Saturday and arrived at Cap Gris Nez in France 12 hours and 23 minutes later.

She said: "I was overcome with emotion - it's a bit tricky crying with goggles and a noseclip on."

Ms Moore is trying to raise £2,000 for the Stroke Association and has reached the halfway mark.

She said: "In early January 2009 a colleague at work sadly passed away following a major stroke.

"He had been doing his best to get me motivated to work out in the gym and take me round the equipment to make sure I actually did the exercises, rather than just sit there and make excuses.

"He kept saying to me: 'You'll never get across the Channel if you sit there and make excuses all the time Vic'."