ALISON Streeter has swum the English Channel for the 41st time. Already known as the Queen of the Channel for completing more swims than anyone else, Alison, who is 39 and has a flat in Dover, had not swum the Channel since 2001.

She had been concentrating on encouraging and training other swimmers from all over the world who come to Dover each year to attempt the swim.

She set off early Saturday morning from Dover, and reached the French coast, not far from Cap Gris Nez, 12 hours 58 minutes later.

Alison, a foreign exchange dealer, made her first Channel swim in 1982. Her mother, Freda, who is also her manager, trainer and coach, was among those on the escort boat for this latest swim.