ONLY about one in ten succeed but a Marlow man hopes to beat the odds when he swims the English Channel.

Durham University maths student Geraint Evans, 20, of Balfour Place, will take a break from Pythagoras for a day to cross the sea to France.

After completing a swimming half marathon for a bet, he decided he was up for going even further.

“I thought I'd go one step better and earn some money for charity so it all came together nicely,” he said.

However, just 665 people have managed to successfully swim across the channel, according to the Channel Swim Association.

Geraint, an experienced swimmer, has been in training since last summer, both in the pool and at Dover harbour.

Dependent on weather, he will begin the challenge between Thursday and Monday from Shakespeare beach in Dover.

The former Holy Trinity School pupil said: “I'm pretty confident, I have done big swims and feel fine afterwards.

"I'm going to start out doing backstroke and if I complete it doing that I may make the world record.”

He said the vast majority of attempts had been made doing front crawl.

Family and friends were surprised when he told them what he was planning.

“Most of them think I'm mad. My mum hates the idea and I keep teasing them that I'm going to get eaten by sharks,” he said.

Ex-Royal Grammar School pupil Geraint will be cheered on by mum Jill, dad Carey, brother Rhys, 16, a Sir William Borlase's Grammar School pupil and friends from the Royal Oak Pub in Bovingdon Green, Marlow, where he works.

He hopes to finish in 12 to 13 hours.

The student will swim side by side with a 'pilot' boat.

He hopes to raise around £4,000 for Cancer Research and a variety of other good causes.

For more see his website below.