TV presenter and keen swimmer Gail Porter and Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew have kicked off this year's Swimathon - one of the world's biggest fundraising swims.

Following a 38 per cent rise in the number of participants in 2010, a record number of 582 leisure centres, health clubs and lidos around the UK have signed up to host sessions between 8 and 10 April.

Over the three days, participants can set their own distance to swim, or choose from set distances (1.5km-5km), to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer and the Swimathon Foundation.