British breast stroke champion swims the Channel in Kentish Town swimming pool

An Olympic swimmer fired the starting gun and launched a relay to “swim the English Channel” in an indoor pool.

Great Britain’s 400m breast stroke hopeful Kate Haywood came all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to help a team from Diabetes UK swim 22 miles – the equivalent of the Channel – at Kentish Town Sports Centre on Grafton Road.

Swimmers undertook the gruelling team race to raise awareness of the national charity.

Kate, who is the British record holder for the 100m breaststroke, said: “It’s such a lovely pool and it’s great to be here with the charity swimmers.

‘‘Swimming is a great sport for everybody to stay fit and healthy and to relax, not just at the competitive level.”

Other swimmers included a 10-year-old boy who suffers from diabetes.

To find out more go to www.diabetes.org.uk/Swim22.