The team swam the equivalent of 21 land miles

Roger Chubb and his team completed the swim in just under 20 hours, and have raised around �25,000 for the Bristol Cancer Help Centre in the process.

"There was some tidal assistance, and it was a great feeling to swim up onto the beach," Mr Chubb told BBC Radio Bristol.

"It was an amazing experience - but quite scary at times, what with the jellyfish and strong tides."

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

Karen Smallwood added: "There was a French family picnicking on the beach as we arrived: they were mesmerized as we came out of the water celebrating and hugging one another.

"It was exhilarating to finish. Arriving on the beach was a real 'wow' moment," she said.

Mr Chubb was inspired to organise the task after his aunt, Gertrude Hilda Willing, swam the channel for charity in 1920.

The swim, which started at 0345 BST on 4 July, was delayed by a day due to bad weather.