OLYMPIC kayak star Ian Wynne has smashed the world record for a solo paddle across the English Channel.

The 33-year-old - who moved to Canterbury in December last year - embarked from Shakespeare beach, Dover, at 9am on Friday and arrived at Cap Gris Nez 2:59:06 later.

The Athens 2004 bronze-medallist - who grew up in Hildenborough - admitted he had 'blown away’ the previous record of 3:21:54 set last year and which had itself bettered a record which had stood for 30 years.

Wynne - who now works as a sports performance coach - crossed the 17.9 nautical mile (21 land mile) stretch in a Fenn Mako 6 surfski kayak which is around 6.5m long and 45 cm wide.