STORMY seas may have brought a Channel swim attempt to a halt but a dedicated swimmer still managed to raise £12,800 for the hospice that cared for his late son.

Alan Gale managed to swim 21.75 miles but his pilot called time on the challenge because of fears for the 46-year-old's safety when a storm hit just a couple of miles from the French shore.

The swim was a culmination of 14 months training with Mr Gale, from Nunnery Wood, putting in over 307 swimming hours and covered over 466 miles in training, as preparation for the challenge in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice.

Mr Gale said: “Disappointed though I was not to make land, the pilot assured me no one alive could have swum against those waves and a 3.5 knot tide.

"I had no reason to regret any lack of training or mental or physical resolve - the Channel had simply closed its doors to swimmers from that point.

"I need to thank the team around me, including my family and also Hallmark Hulme who were instrumental in turning this preliminary concept into a realistic and achievable challenge.

"Their support proved to be the catalyst for other local businesses including Kendall Wadley, to offer their own financial support.

"Without doubt, collaborating with Hallmark Hulme as challenge sponsors gave my project a professional and respected image and ensured that not only did I manage to secure all of the funding necessary for the logistics of a Channel swim attempt but awareness of Acorns was also dramatically increased.”

Mr Gale did the majority of his training, mainly at David Lloyd at Sixways who donated use of their gym facilities including their two pools.

Mandie Fitzgerald, community fundraising manager for Acorns in the Three Counties, said: “We are deeply grateful for this donation, which is a fantastic amount.

"Al’s determination and dedication is an inspiration to us all and to have reached such a large amount single-handedly is truly remarkable.”

Donations can still be made by texting 70070 with £(amount you wish to donate) HOTG77.

For full details of Alan’s Channel challenge, log on to www.algale.co.uk.