Well, we've beaten the French at something

It is perhaps the ideal day to steal a world record from the French. And what better place to do so than on their own soil, less than 24 hours after England's football defeat.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson today smashed the record for crossing the Channel in an amphibious vehicle, landing his car in Calais after an hour and 40 minutes, beating with ease the previous six hours achieved by two Frenchmen to cover the 22-mile stretch.

Sir Richard, of course, is never slow to recognise an opportunity for publicity and his trip in the ?150,000 James Bond-style Gibbs Aquada was accompanied by plenty of media opportunities.

Although he needed a little push to raise the vehicle - which transforms from a car to a boat in seconds - onto wooden ramps on the beach at Calais, it was not long before he was greeting the crowds. Sir Richard, in dinner jacket and bow tie, announced that apart from a few large waves from ferries the crossing had been smooth.

He said: "We had to take something back from the French after last night and we are glad that we have exacted this revenge. Maybe it is not as important as football but it feels important right now."

After driving onto the beach, Sir Richard crossed a finish line on the promenade. An adjudicator from Guinness World Records gave the official crossing time as one

hour, 40 minutes and six seconds. The stunt was part of celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic and as Sir Richard set off, a fly-past was performed by one of the company's Airbus jets. His vehicle was accompanied by reporters in speedboats, a lifeboat and a motor cruiser containing cameramen. A helicopter with cameramen on board also hovered above.

Before he set off, Sir Richard revealed that Virgin planned to offer the amphibious vehicles as a service for executives travelling from the City to Heathrow.