Shocking pink or pretty in pink?

And even the pilot doesn’t like the new colour of his boat.

But Neil Streeter agreed to have his Channel swimmers’ vessel SUVA repainted with the dazzling colour to help two cancer charities.

Mr Streeter, who dislikes pink in general, even suggested: “Think Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds.”

The vessel ended up in the trademark shade as seen on the Rolls-Royce of the Sixties TV puppet character.

SUVA escorts Channel swimmers from Dover to France between June and October and the new head-turning colour is to reap £30,000.

Mr Streeter had originally challenged his crew to raise that sum before he would allow the striking colour to go on the hull.

The team at first raised more than £13,000 and after a private donation of £1,000 also came in Mr Streeter decided to repaint SUVA straight away.

The money will be shared between Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The material came from specialist yacht decorators International Paint.

They did not have the paint needed in pink so they had to have 12 litres of it specially made.

Cliff Golding, of Team SUVA, said: “It has been a real privilege to have such a bespoke shade of paint formulated especially for us.

“SUVA’s new coat of Lady Penelope Pink has brought a new life to the team and will really help us to stand out from the other Channel swimming pilot boats this year.”