TRUCK driver Arthur Leadbeater reversed around Guernsey yesterday to set an unofficial world record. Using only his rear-view mirrors, the 54-year-old builder completed his challenge in just four hours and 52 minutes.

His amazing feat will raise money for the Guernsey Specials Gymnastics Club – his grandson, Spencer, 6, who was there to greet him at the finish, is a member.

‘Everybody said I was never backward in going forward,’ he said.

Moments after finishing, he declared: ‘It’s the hardest thing I have ever done.

‘If you come off boats, you get sea legs, but this was a weird sensation with the truck still moving and going backwards. The people that came in the cab for a short distance experienced the same thing.

‘You are sat there and when it’s stopped, everything is going away from you and I have never felt anything like that before.

‘When I came round by La Rochelle, I was looking in my driver’s side mirror and it seemed as though the wall behind me was going one way and the view in my mirror was showing things going the other way and then they fused together.’

Mr Leadbeater said he felt very satisfied.

‘I was a little bit worried at first but did not want to let anybody down, but even now my legs feel wobbly. I feel really elated and it’s all been worthwhile.’

He set off confidently from the South Esplanade at 7am and had successfully navigated his way up Le Val des Terres within seven minutes.

‘I feel quite good. We just have to make sure we raise loads of money – that is what it’s all about,’ he said, minutes before his unique attempt.

‘I have lots of bananas and water, which should keep me going, but there is a good end to it and the Specials desperately need funds.

‘We feel reasonably confident we will make a large amount of money – the main drive is seeing what Sarah Bamford [the club's chairwoman] and her team do up there. They are doing it voluntarily and you see the response from the children – I think it’s fantastic.’

Mr Leadbeater has been overwhelmed by the public support before and during the challenge.

‘People were throwing money into the truck and stopping collectors and giving money along the way – it was marvellous.’

He said the two most difficult parts were the stretch from La Rochelle to Bordeaux Harbour and by the former Savoy Hotel because of the amount of traffic.

He praised motorists for being patient and Island Coachways escort Ben Boucher for safely navigating him around.

‘We get no funding at all apart from donations and this has caught people’s imagination,’ said Mrs Bamford.

The club is shortly taking 25 children to Jersey and they will all have new tracksuits thanks to Mr Leadbeater’s efforts.

On Saturday night, he was in a chip shop and somebody gave him a fiver and the same day a young lad he helped who had come off his motorbike some time ago returned the cab fare and some extra cash. Pledges of £100 and £500 were also made.