THE extraordinary efforts of 18 students from a school in Taunton who swam the English Channel have received national recognition.

Taunton School's Long Distance Swimming Club - some of them as young as 12 - completed the challenge in two days last summer to raise finds to keep under-threat Wiveliscombe pool open.

They have received the Channel Swimming and Pilots Federation's CS&PF award for the Most Successful Relay Completed under Exceptional Circumstances as well as The Jersey Long Distance Swimming Club’s Special Recognition award.

Head of geography and long distance swimming coach at Taunton School Hamish McCarthy said: “I am immensely proud to have received these awards on behalf of the 18 young boys and girls who swam the Channel last August.

“When asked to jump off the boat, none faltered or hesitated.

"They all showed the courage, determination and team spirit which personifies the ethos of Taunton School.”

The students, working in relay teams of six, coped with strong tides, jellyfish and cold sea temperatures, to complete the crossing.

Mr McCarthy, an Army veteran who has organised similar challenges for the military and wounded service personnel, trained the team three to four times a week.

Since 2016 Taunton School has trained seven successful Channel relay teams, comprising of 39 students and seven staff.

The students are some of the youngest to have ever attempted the 21-mile crossing from Dover to Cap Gris Nez.

Last summer’s swimmers raised money for Wivey Pool, an outdoor community pool in Wiveliscombe, which has been forced to close for the winter after their annual heating bill leapt from £7,000 to £25,000.

Over the last seven years, The Taunton School Long Distance Swimming Club has raised more than £80,000 for local and national charities from various endurance challenges it has taken part in.

Mr McCarthy and Old Tauntonian Jonathon Lawton, a fellow Channel swimmer who volunteers his time at the school, received the award from Sally Minty Gravett, the double world record holder for swimming the Channel.

School head of sport Dan Pettifer said: "The club really does take students with very little water confidence, builds them up physically and mentally, and turns out confident, fit and adventurous young people.”