A 70-YEAR-OLD grandfather became the oldest person to swim across the English Channel yesterday, making it to France after almost 18 hours.

GIANT jellyfish glowing eerily purple and trailing massive tentacles are proving to be an unexpected challenge for a father and his pals facing a unique English Channel swim early next month.

A GARDA who won a bravery award, for saving a man from drowning, is hoping to become the first member of the force to swim the English Channel next week.

Little Britain star David Walliams finally took the plunge today, setting off on his cross-Channel swimming challenge.