Julie Bradshaw, a record-breaking swimmer known as the "Lady of the Lakes" for her achievements in the Lake District, has taken part in the first ever three-way swim of the English Channel by a ladies' team, and in doing so added two new records to her Channel tally.

The team of six women, aged 22 to 46, set a record for the three-way feat of 32hrs. 31mins. in their swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez and return, and then back to France. On the way they also smashed the ladies' two-way record with a time of 19hrs. 6mins. for their first two legs - smashing by 1hrs. 37mins. the previous record of 20hrs. 43mins. set by a Polish team.

After arriving back at Dover after their 70-mile relay, Julie, a 40-year-old PE lecturer at Loughborough University, said: "We are all highly delighted. It was a phenomenal swim, a brilliant team effort,especially as three of use had to swim an hour through jellyfish".

She admitted that she had a fear of jellyfish. "There was a horrendous amount of jellyfish during one of my hour-long swims. This was a nightmare for me - one of my most horrific swimming experiences. But I had to face my fears, as I could not let the side down."