A man hoping to be the first person to swim the entire length of the Channel is still hoping to finish in two days, despite being unable to take to the sea yesterday.

Lewis Pugh was expected to end the 350-mile venture on Wednesday at Shakespeare Beach in Dover.

But that has been jeopardised by yesterday's stormy weather, which prevented him from rounding Dungeness.

In his daily blog written for Sky News, he wrote: "We left Rye Harbour in a hired rib as the winds were too strong for our catamaran.

"A mile offshore, as the rib crashed down the side of another wave and we were hit by yet more spray, the rib's skipper, Will, asked if we were alright.

"Another mile out to sea and the swell had grown at least another metre in height. This time, Will didn't ask - 'I'm calling the swim off,' he said.

"I looked at him in dismay. I had to get those kilometres done today, I need to arrive in Dover on Wednesday. We are running out of time."

In order to compensate for the loss of time, Mr Pugh has predicted he will have to swim "day and night" to make it to Dover within his 50-day target.

"Because of this setback, by the time I get to Dover, I will be exhausted," he added.

"From now on I need to conserve as much energy as I can. It's going to be three days of swim, sleep, repeat."

Mr Pugh had also spent two hours on Saturday trying to fight his way round Dungeness to no avail.

He began in Land's End on July 12 to raise awareness about sea pollution.

It has been held in co-ordination with the Channel Swimming Association and he will be greeted by its president on the beach.

The 48-year-old is following CSA rules by wearing just Speedo swimming trunks, a cap and goggles.

Mr Pugh is the only person to have completed a long-distance swim in every ocean in the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic.

He will attempt to round Dungeness again today.