A man has been charged with a public order offence following an incident which temporarily halted the Varsity Boat Race.
The 158th annual contest was stopped between the two and three-mile markers after a swimmer appeared to deliberately cross the path of the rowers.
35-year-old Trenton Oldfield narrowly avoided the blade of an Oxford oar and, with the university crews neck and neck, the event was stopped for almost half an hour while the wetsuit-wearing swimmer was pulled from the river and taken away by police.
Oldfield, of Myrdle Street, East London, was held in custody at Chiswick police station before being released on bail last night.
He has been ordered to appear at Feltham Magistrates Court on Monday April 23, charged with a Section Five offence under the Public Order Act.
