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Peter's swim is booked for the neap tides of July 13 to 20 but, wind, weather and human factors could delay his attempt until late July or August.

He is "absolutely ahead" of his training target, he told the Hawkinge Gazette, and has completed more training in the Channel this year than ever before.

On Thursday (June 25) he completed a three-hour training swim off of Bleriot-Plage, France and two days later did a six-hour training swim with and against the tide on the English side.

58-year-old Peter said:  "I am happy and pleased to be very vigorously training in the English Channel, 13-plus months after open heart, bypass surgery.

"I feel great. I am significantly thinner than in 2007 yet I am adjusting to the cool temperatures. I am probably the same weight as I was in 1987 for my first crossing."

Channel swimming and Piloting Federation pilot Mike Oram said that wind, weather and human factors could likely dictate a later swim in July or August.

Peter, who spends considerable time each summer in Folkestone said he plans to be ready for the first option.