A German tourist has been caught after paddle-boarding halfway across the Channel wearing just a pair of shorts, a hat and fleece.

The man had incredibly already completed half the 21-mile stretch - through the busiest shipping lane in the world - before being spotted by crew members on a diving boat.

He was said to have been stopped in the early hours of Sunday morning seven miles off the UK coastline on the stand-up paddle board.

It's not known why the German national made the treacherous trip, but Border Force officials confirmed there were no immigration issues.

He was said to have become disorientated and "in distress" before he was picked up by HMS Valiant.