A GIRL from Dover has become the youngest person to swim the Channel this year, and possibly the youngest Dover person ever.

Family and friends were on the quayside at the docks on Tuesday night to congratulate 16-year-old Megan Forbes when she returned to the Kent town.

She made her swim in 14 hours 27 minutes, fulfilling an ambition she has had for the past four years.

Megan set off from Abbots Cliff beach at 3.35am on Tuesday, and the swim began in good conditions.

"The sea was good for the first part of the swim, and for the last part," said Megan, "but it was a bit rough in the middle."

At one point it appeared the strong tides might sweep her down the French coast, but she battled through them and landed at Fort Mahon, Ambleteuse, four miles south of Cap Gris Nez.

Some of her school friends were among those at Dover Marina for Megan’s return, complete with flowers, champagne and a banner.

Megan, who was 16 in July, has been swimming all her life and had wanted to make a solo swim of the Channel since she was 12. The minimum age limit for a solo swim is 16.

Born in Dover, Megan went to River Primary School and now attends Dover Girls’ Grammar School where she has just passed her GCSE exams.

She had already completed one-way and two-way relay Channel swims with the Eltham Swimming Club, with whom she trains.

For the past two years she has been Junior Champion of Champions in the British Long Distance Swimming Association event, which is held in Dover Harbour.

Megan completed seven-hour training swims to prepare for her Channel swim, and beforehand said she wasn’t really worried about what time she did the swim in, she just wanted to do it.

Records are being checked to find out if Megan is the youngest-ever Channel swimmer from Dover.