A WHITEHAVEN chef has completed an epic swimming challenge across the English Channel.

Ricky Andalcio, who owns Zest Harbourside, swam 30 miles with friends Thomas Noblett and Keith Bartolow.

The trio, known as 'the 3 Amigos' took on a relay swim from Dover to Wissant in France, enduring tide changes, choppy water and stormy weather.

Ricky, who enjoys open water swimming in the Lakes, said it was "quite a last minute decision" to take on the English Channel.

He said that his friend Keith, who lives in Malta, came over to England to swim the channel, but realised he hadn't done enough training so it turned into a three man relay.

The team completed the challenge in an impressive 15 hours and six minutes.

Ricky said: "It was very different to swimming in the Lakes."

Wet suits aren't allowed for a Channel swim to be officially ratified, so Ricky had to adapt to swimming in trunks.

"I had to man up and go without a wet suit," he said.

"We set off at 20 past three in the morning so it was still dark.

"There are a lot of elements that are outside of your control; you can get cold, the tides can turn."

The swimmers also had to brave a force four storm - a force five storm would have resulted in the swim being called off.

"We ended up swimming four miles further than where we had hoped to land," Ricky added.

"It was a hard day at the office but it's another one ticked off the list!"