A SPORTS centre lifeguard from Atherton was in a team of swimmers who swam in relay across the English Channel.

Phil Taylor, who works at Howe Bridge sports centre, was part of a six-strong Warrington Dolphins Swimming Club team who swam from Dover to Cap Gris Nez in 14 hours.

Only one of the six had previously swam in the sea. The team had to use nightsticks to finish the crossing in the dark and narrowly missed being hit by a French trawler.