Joined by his two daughters, children’s entertainer Mr Banana Head peeled off to take part in the Sport Relief Swimathon at Westminster Lodge.

Mr Banana Head, aka Paul Albert, and his two daughters Jade, aged 12, and Katie, nine, who live in Park Street, took the plunge to raise funds for Sport Relief and are confident they can hit their £900 target.

While Paul swam 5kms (200 lengths), Jade swam two and a half kms (100 lengths) and Katie swam one and a half kms (60 lengths). All three received medals when they finished their swims.

Paul said: “We absolutely wanted to do something for Sport Relief to raise money and do it as a family.”

By the end of their endeavours, he went on, they all felt ‘exhausted but elated’. He added: “We will 100 per cent do it again if the girls want to.”