A funeral director is in buoyant mood after completing his lifetime ambition to swim the English Channel.

Bingley Swimming Club coach Geoff Taylor, 49, last night completed the epic swim between England and France in 12 hours and six minutes.

The most direct route across the Channel is just 21 miles but Geoff, of Westwood Crescent, Bingley, had to swim about 28 miles because of the direction of the tide.

After an estimated 40,000 strokes, Geoff arrived on French shores just before 7.45pm.

Speaking on his triumphant arrival, he told the Telegraph & Argus the achievement "hadn't sunk in yet".

He said: "I know it's going to feel great because I could never imagine doing it. It's been my life ambition and I'm delighted.

"I'm not that tired, although my shoulders ache a bit as you would expect.

"I'm just ready for a beer and I hope the pubs haven't closed by the time we get back to Folkestone."

He said the most difficult part had been the last four miles once the cliffs of France had come into sight.

"You think you are there but you're not. You carry on swimming and the cliffs never seem to get any closer," he said.

Friend and right-hand-man Donato Stante said the conditions for Geoff's epic effort had been "perfect".

Donato, of Bracken Park, Gilstead, said: "The Channel has been like a millpond.

"The conditions were absolutely superb. Geoff swam exceptionally well he kept a steady stroke rate and has done brilliantly well.

"There have been no problems although we have taken a few pictures of huge container ships travelling past.

"We gave him the appropriate food at the appropriate times and the rest was down to him. We're all delighted he's done it."

To keep his strength up, Geoff polished off lots of Jelly Babies as well as specialised energy drinks stopping for a five-minute rest and feed every hour.

He smothered himself in grease to keep out the cold, although he said the water was particularly cold due to the sunny weather.

Geoff, Donato and friend Mick Joss, of Eldwick, were only allowed by law to spend five minutes on French soil after landing near their target of Cap Gris Nez.

They then returned to England on the same support boat comedian David Walliams used in his recent crossing of the world's busiest shipping lane.

Before setting off for Dover and the start of his swim, Geoff, who combines working full-time at Shipley funeral directors HH Birch with hours of pool-based training, said he was desperate to complete the challenge before turning 50 in September.

His swim has already raised more than £1,000 for Marie Curie Cancer Care, the chosen charity of HH Birch funeral directors.

Geoff has already swum most of the waters in the Lake District including Windermere and has been used by Bradford Council's Sport and Leisure Service as a role model to encourage more people to give swimming a go.

e-mail: will.kilner @bradford.newsquest.co.uk