A 52-year-old man was rescued from the sea more than 17 hours into a record-breaking bid to swim across the English Channel - and back.

Super fit Tim Cheesman would have made history as the oldest swimmer to achieve the feat but was pulled from the freezing water after injuring his arm.

It was the second time the Sussex engineer had made a bid for the record books but still managed an amazing 17 hours 51 minutes of almost non-stop swimming.

After the valiant attempt, an exhausted Tim, said: "I'm not disappointed at all. This was probably my best ever swim and I broke my personal best getting to France.

"After about six or seven hours my left shoulder started to play up. I swam for another ten or eleven hours with a bad shoulder and then eventually I couldn't move it."

Despite being in the English Channel for almost 18 hours, Tim, from East Grinstead, only had one jellyfish sting.

He said: "It was very very welcome just as I was coming into France. It was on my right arm and so the pain from that took my mind off my left arm.

"I had a fantastic support team around me and I would like to pay tribute to the help they gave me.

"It was my ambition to achieve the world record whilst raising funds for St Catherine's Hospice as my way of repaying the outstanding care and support they gave my father, Peter, with his fight with with cancer.

"I do hope all those who have donated, assuming I would achieve the double, will still pass their sponsorship to the hospice."

Tim, an engineer, had hoped to raise £20,000 with the attempt but he is still collecting sponsorship money if anyone would like to support him.

He had set off from Shakespeare Beach, in Dover, on Saturday in good conditions, at 7.15am on Saturday and arrived in France at Cap Gris Nez, near Calais, 10.30pm British time. Only 18 people have ever completed the two-way crossing.

He could not stay for long to get his breathe back though as record rules state he could only stay on the French beach for a maximum of three minutes before heading back into the icy water to complete the 42-mile swim.

His return journey lasted three hours and eight minutes before the injury to his left shoulder forced him to stop.

The bid to become the oldest swimmer to achieve the double crossing, which is the equivalent of running eight marathons back to back, was not Tim's first but will be his last.

In 2005 he attempted the feat only to have his hopes dashed by the weather.

Waves 6ft high whipped up by gale force winds were forcing off course and away from his support boat.

Tim, who is recovering from his endurance test, added: "I won't go for it again. This time has put it to bed for me."

To sponsor Tim, please visit www.justgiving.com/timsswim