A Weybridge schoolboy is kick-starting his summer holidays with a challenge to raise money for Shooting Star Chase.

Most schoolchildren enjoy lie ins and relaxing as their six-week break from school begins, but Josh Bryan, 12, has jumped into the pool to swim the length of the English Channel.

Josh, who attends Heathside, had been fundraising for the Hampton hospice at school and decided to challenge himself during the summer with a Channel length swim to raise more funds.

Josh said: "The work of Shooting Star Chase changes lives and I want to be able to do what I can to support them.

"The challenge has been hard and it has made me tired, my mum had difficulty getting me out of bed in the morning for school, even my alarm had trouble."

The youngster has swum 3,630 lengths of his pool, the equivalent of the 22 miles of the English Channel and hopes his new challenge will secure him the gold Blue Peter badge.

Josh, who has so far achieved five of the seven Blue Peter badges available, said: "I have been watching Blue Peter since I was five and I have dreamed of owning all the badges.

"To be awarded the gold badge would make all my dreams come true".

To sponsor Josh, visit justgiving.com/Joshbryan