Real-life ‘mermaid’ travels the British coast swimming in her £1500 tail… but she draws the line at getting in her local canal
Rachel Thelwell, from Wrexham, has even set up a 'mer-school'
WE all enjoy a break by the sea - but one woman has shelled out over £1,500 encouraging others to embrace life as a MERMAID, as she lounges on Britain's beaches wearing a tail.
Rachel Thelwell, from Wrexham, Wales, has worn a silicon tale weighing over 1.5 stone on the beach for the past two years - and despite her heavy tail, even enjoys swimming like the mythical beings.
The youth worker is also known as 'Rayshell the Welsh Mermaid' - and she says she developed an interest in the ocean from a young age.
The 43-year-old explained: "I've always been obsessed with fish and seahorses and I've loved the sea for as long as I can remember.
"People say 'why do you do it?' all the time, but I am just polite – you get used to it.
"It can fit any personality, you can look at it from the Disney princess side or you can look at it from the darker side that mermaids wanted to get men into the sea to kill them."
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Rachel, who travels to coastlines across Wales and England to stoke her passion, has now set up a 'mer-school' to teach other people how to live more like the fantasy sea creatures.
The Welshwoman spent £1,150 having her purple tail shipped over from the USA, and she has spent a further £420 on extra fins for beginners.
At her weekend retreats, Rachel teaches people about mermaid folklore and how to create shell jewellery before the group practice reiki, an alternative healing technique.
Rachel, who used to be a competitive swimmer, also teaches other people how to use their tails in the water.
And the mermaid, who designs and creates all of her own costumes, would like more men to become involved in the lifestyle.
Rachel said: "The amount of mermen is really growing, you'd be surprised.
"It's more in the USA though, maybe our men are too manly.
"It takes weeks of practice to learn how to swim with like a mermaid.
"I went free diving and monofin training to learn how to do it.
"A lot of swimming pools ban the tail but one pool near where I work is fine with it.
She added: "There's only a canal near me and I'm not getting in that."