AN OPEN water swimmer from Malmesbury will be slapping on the grease as he attempts to swim the English channel for second time in aid of three charities.

Andy Pointer, 48, who lives on the High Street, and his 28-year-old swim partner Helen Braid from Lincolnshire will be embarking on their challenge some point during their window from August 26-30, for the British Heart Foundation, Combat Stress and HEALS of Malmesbury.

"It is now very real," the father-of-five and IT Consultant said. "Our swim window is open and we are very aware that at this time next week we could be battling the tide. My main concern is about the weather at the moment but I can't think of anything better than completing the swim knowing you have done something good."

The pair managed to complete the crossing three years ago, when they took part in a six person relay for Diabetes UK which took more than 17 hours to complete but now they are preparing to do it just by themselves.

Mr Pointer said: "I don't think there is any emotion you don't go through when embarking on something like this. You know you will be tired, sad and upset and you know you won't get any sympathy from the salty seadogs on the boat, but it is worth it in the end."

The swim pair decided to raise money for The British Heart Foundation when Miss Braid's father died from heart disease three months after the crossing and at the same time Mr Pointer's son Joe had been honourably discharged from the Grenadier Guards due to injury.

"He watched two of his friends die," Mr Pointer said. "He was fine and it was nothing we couldn't handle but there were a few interesting moments along the way and we became aware that others aren't so fortunate and don't have the same resources."

The pair then added Combat Stress to their list of charities, and as a trustee of HEALS of Malmesbury, Mr Pointer was keen to raise some money for a local cause too but names his daughter as his inspiration.

"My daughter Amy was the first to do a charity swim for Help for Heroes when she was nine or ten where she swam the length of the Loch Ness. It wasn't meant to be a big thing but it turned into it and I guess I couldn't be outdone by my youngest daughter!"

The swimmers now have a nervous wait to find out when they will do the swim, with the organisers giving twelve hours notice before the challenge begins.

For more information and to donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Braid-Pointer.