Larkfield Swimming Club coach James Bell swapped the pool for the English Channel to complete an epic swim to France.

Bell, 29, swam more than 20 miles from Samphire Hoe, near Dover, to Strouanne Beach, finishing in 12hr36min.

In doing so, he realised a long-time ambition to make the crossing.

“It’s a little bit surreal when you’re standing on the boat and it’s early morning,” said Bell, who left at 5.38am on the morning of August 29.

“I don’t think it quite dawns on you until you get going that this is it for the next 12 hours or so.

“I didn’t have a target in mind because there are so many variables that can influence it.

“You’ve got the wind, the tides, how you do on the day, so I think if you go with a set time or pace in mind, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

“The tides were quite nice to us but the wind was picking up through the day, it’s fair to say.

“I just wanted to finish it, that was my goal.

“I wanted to stand on the beach, wave my arms and say ‘I’ve done it’.

“Physically I was OK at the end but mentally I was spent.

“When you get to the end it’s more relief.

“You spend the next couple of days recovering and then it starts to sink in what you’ve actually done.

“That first part, when you’re stood on the beach, you’re not all there, then two days later you’re like, ‘Wow, I’ve done something special’.

“In a straight line it’s 33km (20.5 miles) but the tide pushes you north for a bit and then it swaps six hours in and pushes you back south, so the swimmers always end up doing more than 33km, but you can’t really work it out.”

Bell, who lives in Paddock Wood, registered for the swim with the Channel Swimming Association.

As well as training six days a week, and sometimes seven, he had to undergo a medical and prove his fitness in a six-hour swim before being cleared to take on the crossing.

Swimming alongside his pilot’s boat, he had Larkfield members Jack Brown and Kara Redford on board for support.

His achievement has gone down well at the club.

“They were really happy,” said Bell, who’s one of the main coaches at Larkfield.

“It’s a big thing for the club because I’ve been there for about 20 years and we’ve never had a swimmer do the Channel.

“It’s been a talking point, that’s for sure.

“My parents were absolutely delighted, too.

“I don’t think either of them realised swimming would go this far when they signed me up all those years ago.”

Bell is taking a well-deserved break after his Channel exploits but it won’t be his last big challenge.

“I’ll be taking on something else but not just yet,” he said.

“There’s so much water on this planet, there’s got to be something else.

“It’s something like two-thirds water, so there’s plenty more to do.”