A St Albans man will be ramping up the red to fight heart disease as part of a national advertising campaign with the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Kevin Murphy, will be donning his red swimmers worn in the BHF advert and go for a swim on February 7 in support of the BHF national Ramp up the Red campaign, running from January 3 to February 7.

Mr Murphy, who holds the Guinness World Record for the first date crossing the English Channel swimming, has always been a keen long-distance swimmer.

He has had a strong link to the BHF since 2009 after he suffered a heart attack.

Mr Murphy said: "I wanted to get involved because of my own condition. I had always been fit and healthy, swimming regularly, but in August 2009 I suffered a heart attack and had bypass surgery. It took me weeks to recover and I couldn’t do anything.

"However, in January 2010 I decided I didn’t want my condition to rule my life. I started swimming again, I was determined to get back and prove I still could.

"In 2012 I did a Channel relay swim and last year I did a three-mile race the length of Lake Bala in Wales to mark the 50th anniversary of when I first did it as a teenager. I am hoping to raise awareness and vital funds for the BHF helping them to fund the research that is so urgently needed to fight heart disease."

On the first Friday of the month, February 7, the BHF is asking the great British public to Ramp up the Red and join the fight for every heartbeat.

Whether it’s wearing red make up, donning some fetching red trousers, a traffic-stopping little red dress or painting your nails a scarlet shade, the BHF is urging people to go as red as they dare and organise a Ramp up the Red party.

Louise Parkes, Fundraising Director at the BHF, said: "Ramp up the Red is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to think about how many lives are affected by heart disease. By organising a fundraising event in February, you will be helping us to raise much-needed funds in order to fight heart disease.

"The BHF is the biggest funder of life-saving heart research in the UK to help everybody who suffers from a heart problem. This research has already made medical history but funds are urgently needed to fund further research.

"We offer our heartfelt thanks to Kevin for so generously dedicating their time and energy to help us continue our fight for every heartbeat."