The team will swim the equivalent of 21 land miles

Roger Chubb and a team of businessmen and women from Bristol set off from Folkestone in Kent on Thursday morning, heading for the French coast.

Mr Chubb, who will be raising money for the Bristol Cancer Help Centre, was inspired to tackle the marathon swim by the memory of his Aunt Gertrude.

Gertrude Hilda Willing was one of the first women to attempt to swim between England and France.

The swimmers Roger Chubb Robin Townsend Richard Clarke Martin Little Christine Wright Karen Smallwood Mark Durnford Jonathan Rees

Roger Chubb said: "I have been moved to raise funds in memory of my Aunt's husband, who was killed in the First World War.

"Due to the shock of his death she lost her child who I was named after. It has long been my goal to swim the English Channel in tribute to her courageous attempt.

"In our day most people are affected in some way by cancer with one in three people in the UK diagnosed during their lifetime.

"All of us in the team are proud to help the Bristol Cancer Help Centre in their internationally recognised work to support more people living with cancer and their families," he added.

The swim - equivalent to 21 land miles - is expected to take 20 hours.