A Hampshire women’s marathon charity swim was called off at the eleventh hour as she stood at the water’s edge.

It was 3.10am on Sunday and Deborah Herridge was about to set off of a 14-mile swim from Hill Head to Ryde and back when she received a call from the Solent pilot saying the challenge was off due to poor visibility.

After last year's successful one-way swim across the Solent, from Ryde to Hill Head Sailing Club, Deborah Herridge was hoping to double the distance but was defeated by the weather.

“It’s a big step up but physically I’m there,” said Deborah, “Now I’ve got to keep up my fitness and carry on training.”

With a busy summer of sailing in the Solent now under way the 46-year-old will have to wait until September to try again.

Deborah, from Lee-on-the-Solent, is raising money for three charities, Canine partners and Cancer Research Uk and the Gosport-based Oakley Waterman Caravan Foundation, which provides holidays for terminally-ill children.

The landscape photographer began long-distance open-water swimming just two years ago. She found she had a talent for it and now takes the plunge every day off Hillhead or Lee. She does not wear a wet suit, which would provide extra buoyancy and thermal protection, so must keep moving to avoid hypothermia.

She is trained by her husband, Robert, who rowed for Scotland in the Commonwealth games.

To sponsor Deborah log on to justgiving.com/Deborah-Herridge/ or virginmoney.giving.com/DeborahHerridge.