BBC Radio Northampton team dives in for charity

Robert Constantin is learning how to swim for the first time

A local radio station is pooling its resources for a charity challenge.

BBC Radio Northampton is joining colleagues from stations across the country to collectively swim 1,000 miles (1,609km) in a week for Children in Need.

For Robert Constantin, a member of the Northampton Breakfast Show team, the challenge is particularly hard - because he cannot swim.

He is having training sessions with a paralympic coach to make sure he can hold his head up high.

The challenge will be attempted at Mounts Baths in Northampton

When someone floated the idea of completing lengths of Mounts Baths in Northampton for Children in Need, Robert was keen to do his bit, but his heart sank when he realised swimming was not in his skillset.

He said: "For the first time in a while, I'm actually quite nervous to try something new.

"I've never, in my 23 years of life, managed to learn how to swim.

"A lot of people have tried to teach me, but none of them have succeeded. I might just be completely useless in the pool."

The coach who has been trying to persuade him otherwise is Andy Sharp. He guided Paralympic champion Maisie Summers-Newton from the county to win two gold medals and a bronze at Paris 2024.

He also coached another Northamptonshire Paralympic champion, Ellie Robinson, to gold and bronze at Rio 2016.

Paralympic coach Andy Sharp has taken on the task of getting Robert afloat

Mr Sharp said he was "always up for a challenge, we're going to give it a good go over the next few weeks in helping you be confident in the water and be safe".

He was confident that Robert would be able to swim at least a length by the week of the challenge next month.

As Robert dipped his toe in the water for the first time, Mr Sharp worked on his kicking technique: "Put your knees a little bit closer together, point your toes a little bit more, and keep those legs longer as you're kicking.

"And kick one foot after the other..."

Andy Sharp coached Paralympic champion Maisie Summers-Newton who won two gold medals at Paris 2024

With three weeks to go until the challenge, Robert has time to soak up all the advice he is being given and let it sink in.

Rhodri Talfan Davies, the BBC's director of nations, said: "A thousand miles is some swim.

"What a way for our local radio presenters from across BBC Local and all four nations to come together and raise money for Children in Need.

"It's going to be tough, for sure, but with the support of millions of listeners, our aim is to support vital charity projects in communities right across the UK."