Most people use their birthdays as an excuse to either put their feet up or have some fun.

But a sports teacher from Putney decided to mark his 38th year on the planet by doing something a bit more memorable - swimming the Channel.

Scott Stanley, from Putney, spent 13 hours and 45 minutes swimming the 19-mile crossing to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity (GOSHCC). He left Dover at 10.45 pm last Sunday night and completed the gruelling course on Monday when he arrived at Cap Gris-Nez near Le Sodit.

Mr Stanley, the head of sports at Putney's Hurlingham School, put on three and a half stones during his six month training regime, where he went from weighing 11 and a half stone to 15.

He said: "I am thrilled. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but well worth the effort. A birthday I shall never forget.

"I decided to go in the evening and the first five or six hours were horrific. I was terribly sick."

But Mr Stanley's intense training, which consisted of practice swims around the Isle of Wight and Gozo, near Malta, as well as a warm up relay across the Channel three weeks ago, saw him through.

He was originally due to attempt the epic swim before turning 38 on Monday - but poor conditions meant he had to postpone the challenge for a few days.

Mr Stanley has currently raised more than £13,000 towards his target of £20,000 for GOSHCC.

He added: "A number of children I have taught have been treated at Great Ormond street. I love kids and it's such a great cause."

And while he swam the Channel the whole school was following him on a tracking map, showing their support.

Anyone wanting to donate can visit justgiving.com/scottstanleyschannelswim.

• Got a great story for us? Let us know by emailing imason@london.newsquest.co.uk or leave a comment below.