A Weymouth swimmer is threatening legal action after being refused a world record when she swam as part of a group across the English Channel.

Linda Ashmore, 76, who lives in The Orchard, said she was 'gobsmacked' when the team were not awarded confirmation of their swim on September 12.

The group of six swimmers successfully crossed to Sangatte beach in France as part of a relay effort and thought they had become the oldest to achieve the feat. 

However the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, which monitors swims across the body of water, claimed the effort is invalid.

It said that this was because of an 'illegal changeover' of swimmers, with the group's various appeals against the decision being rejected.

Linda is the oldest British woman to win an Ironman world title and also holds the record for being the oldest woman to swim the English Channel.

She told the Dorset Echo that she was 'gobsmacked' when she heard the Federation had dismissed the team's swim, adding they are talking to solicitors about legal action.

"It was obvious from the word go that conditions were very bad, it was rough," Linda said.

"We all did our best and each time we came out of the water we huddled into a circle (in a boat)."

Rules for teams attempting to swim the channel state that each member of the group should swim for 60 minutes, and the swimmer must be out of the water within five minutes.

Linda said that Robert Lloyd-Evans, 80, from Poole, was back in the boat 'within 64 minutes' before the next swimmer took his place.

Another participant, Bob Roberts, 75, is also from Weymouth. 

"We did not think anything about it - we got to the other side and the captain and observer were both more than happy that we had eventually made it," she added.

"And we were gobsmacked when the ratification did not come through. We tried to find out if there was a problem.

"Eventually they said they had not allowed it and we could not believe it. We were going for the world record.

"Initially we were a bit deflated by it all. But we got to the stage where we have looked at the rules and we think they have got it wrong.

"And we have not had any more information back from them as far as I know."

Linda and her team were completing the swim in aid of the Alzheimer’s Research UK charity. 

The group have so far smashed their fundraising target and raised more than £7,000. Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ofitw2 

The Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation has been contacted for comment.