Mayor Mark Butler tried to conquer his fear of water by zipping through the waves at 70mph in a powerboat.

Councillor Butler, Mayor of Littlehampton, swapped his chains of office for a wetsuit and helmet to raise money for charity.

Holding on for dear life, he sat in the speedboat It Wasn't Me wishing it wasn't him as it sliced through the waves between Littlehampton and Shoreham.

His fortitude raised about £900 for the Chestnut Tree Appeal towards a children's hospice in West Sussex.

Coun Butler, 40, said it was an exhilarating experience but not one he was keen to repeat.

He added: "I was scared stiff to start with. But bouncing and cutting through the waves as fast as we were going, I didn't have time to be scared.

"I was too busy holding on and trying to find my teeth so I could grit them.

Coun Butler admitted it was unusual for the mayor of a seaside town to have an aversion to water but said he was trying to overcome his trepidation.

He was "unceremoniously dumped" into the Channel earlier in the year to be airlifted out by an RAF Sea King helicopter.

He added: "I have heard it's on the cards that the next thing being put my way will be parascending.

"But I'm sure the people of Littlehampton like me really."