SHE’S used to taking things to extremes, but her latest challenge promises to be her most testing yet.

Anna Wardley has already swum the Channel, between Europe and Africa, and even spent 19 hours swimming 21 miles in lengths of Lake Windermere.

But now the 36-year-old is planning to take on a gruelling five-month charity challenge that will involve a record-breaking attempt to become the first person to swim around one of the islands of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland.

Despite water temperatures barely rising above a frigid 13C, Anna, from Gosport, will take on the 30-mile swim against powerful tides without a wetsuit.

And that is just one of five epic swims around five islands, where she will not only contend with the cold and currents, but busy shipping lanes, all in the hope of raising £50,000 for the Samaritans, Toe in the Water and Sail Africa.

Over the course of her Five Island Swim Challenge, Anna will cover 150 miles as she also swims around Dragonera near Mallorca in the Mediterranean, back in Hampshire for Portsea Island, then Jersey and finally non-stop around the Isle of Wight, all between May and September.

Anna said: “Although all five swims are challenging in their own right, the swim around Tiree will be particularly tough due to the powerful tidal streams and the extremely low water temperature, which barely rises above 13 degrees Celsius even in the height of summer.

“I have a gruelling training programme to make sure I’m prepared mentally and physically for what are set to be the most difficult swims I’ve ever faced.

“After all the endless hours of preparation which goes into each of these challenges, by the time I get into the water the swim itself is the easy part!”