A Surbiton swimmer will brave the freezing depths of Loch Ness in a tartan costume later this summer and perhaps come face to face with the legendary monster.

Jenny Rice, a 24-year-old graphic design student at Kingston University, will join a team from the Serpentine Ladies Swimming Club, to raise £50,000 for Afghan Mother and Child Rescue.

The student, who lives in Surbiton, is a Nessie denier, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

She said: “I’m more worried about the cold. We joke about the monster but we’re not taking it seriously. I was trying to find out the number of sightings and it is something like 10,000.

“I think it is possible there’s something there, having read about it a little bit.”

They will only be allowed to wear a hat, goggles and a swimming costume as they take it in turns to swim for an hour each, aiming to complete the 23 miles from Loch End, at the north end of Loch Ness, until they reach Fort Augustus at the south end.

The women expect to be in the water between 20 and 25 hours in total - more than enough to attract the attentions of Nessie - rumoured to be a surviving plesiosaur, sea-serpent or dragon, even if they do not believe she exists.

Four Spanish swimmers set the current record for a relay swim of Loch Ness in 7.5 hours.

To donate visit swimlochness.co.uk.