A new record has been set for the fastest crossing of the Channel by amphibious car.

Professor Hans Georg (CORRECT) Nader took the record from Sir Richard Branson by crossing from Dover to Sangatte in one hour 14 minutes and 30 seconds this morning.

He was at the controls of his four-wheel drive amphibious vehicle, called Tonic, which had been developed by the independent Swiss company Esoro.

It is powered by a 140 horse power Mercedes turbo-diesel engine, and can travel at 31 miles an hour in the water and 93 miles an hour on land.

It was Professor Nader's second attempt.

He had set off at 5am from the slipway at Dover beach, but had to abandon the crossing after seven miles because of problems with the engine.

The car returned to Dover for some repairs, and Professor Nader, with colleague Henry Hawkins as passenger, set off again at 8.15am. An hour and a quarter later he was driving up the slipway at Sangatte on the French coast.

Sir Richard's previous record of one hour 40 minutes and six seconds was set in June 2004 in a Gibbs Aquada vehicle.