A teenager from Watford is preparing to swim solo across the English Channel.

Prisha Tapre, who has just turned 16, is set to tackle the 21-mile swim from Dover to Cap Gris Nez in the coming days, weather permitting.

If successful, she will be one of the youngest people to complete the challenge and the first teenage solo swimmer from Watford Swimming Club.

Prisha said: "Many say it is harder than climbing Mount Everest.

"That really motivates me and pushes me to do more.

"I feel confident after my last long swim and I hope to keep swimming, just keep swimming.

"I wish to set a precedent so that more girls like me take to sports.

"I especially wish to promote it to different ethnicities.

"In our community, it is rare to find a girl to take to swimming for a sport. That is the barrier I want to break."

Prisha's coach Jeremy Irvine has been with her every step of the way.

He said: "It’s been a busy four years since Watford Swimming Club coach Josie Hoare told me about a 12-year-old swimmer who wanted to swim the channel.

"Having coached older channel swimmers before, I was intrigued.

"Prisha wanted to be a channel swimmer so straight away she joined our group at Denham water-ski lake and proved herself by swimming late into the autumn.

"Since then, she’s completed countless BLDSA (British Long Distance Swimming Association) swims from the brutally cold Dover swims to beautiful Lake Windermere and an Ullswater two-way.

"In addition to her usual swim club training, Prisha’s swum six, seven and 10-hour sea swims and taken regular cold showers and baths so I have every confidence in her.

"She has worked hard and despite loathing early mornings, she always leaves the water smiling."

Prisha also wants to use her swim to raise funds for the charity Akshaya Patra, which provides meals to children in need.

She added: "The work done by Akshaya Patra really inspires me.

"They feed children my age and even younger."

Prisha's progress can be tracked via her on Instagram @prishatapre or @watford_ocean_warriors.