EastEnders actor prepares for charity wind farm swim

Actor Will Ellis is raising funds for young people with special educational needs and disabilities

EastEnders actor Will Ellis is taking part in a swim to a wind farm off the Sussex coast to raise money for a local charity.

Mr Ellis, who plays Theo Hawthorne in the BBC show, is raising money for Amaze, a charity for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The actor, who has used the charity which provided support with his son, who is non-verbal, said is is fortunate to have a profile that can be used positively.

He said: "Raising money for the charity will be amazing. The charity has the right network of people and the charity have gone a long way to help us out."

Mr Ellis will swim to the Rampion offshore wind farm, which is 16 miles off Brighton beach.

The swim will start at 03:00 BST on Saturday.

He said: "It is a necessary evil to getup early to get it done, although I don't anticipate I'll get much sleep the night before.

"I'm nervous, but I think that is a good thing.

"When I start to hurt, I'll think of the bigger picture."

He added: "People see the Rampion farm as an eyesore, but I think we should be celebrating it.

"It is a beautiful structure and provides clean energy."

Mr Ellis is preparing to swim the English Channel in August.