1,200 BRAVE CHRISTMAS DIP
IT WAS the biggest year yet for brave swimmers who took a dip in the Bristol Channel on Christmas morning.
The charity Porthcawl Christmas Morning swim is now in its 53rd year.
This year, there were 1,200 registered swimmers whose brave antics were watched on by 2,500 spectators.
Swimmers and spectators head from right across Britain to take part and watch, while visitors have come along from New Zealand, Canada and Germany, to enjoy the festive fun.
Star Wars characters were out in force, along with swimmers dressed up as Santa, penguins, elves, snowmen, and some even wore their bikinis.
The event got underway at Sandy Bay at 11.45am and the air was filled with carol singing and Christmas music as they rushed into the sea.
Mayor of Porthcawl, Councillor Lorrie Desmond-Williams and Porthcawl Coastguards signalled the start of the parade and cleared a path through the spectators down the beach for the swimmers.
A spokesman from the swim committee said: “We are delighted with the fantastic turnout.
“The swim is a great family event with many different generations of the same family taking to the sea.
“Many were in fancy dress with lots who followed the organisers theme and dressed as Father Christmas in memory of one of our founder members and original ‘Swim father Christmas’ Jack Bridge, who sadly passed away earlier this year.
“The atmosphere all around the swimmers is very special and hard to explain.”
Last year, £10,000 was raised through the event and organisers were hoping that even more cash would be raised this time around for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Dave King, chairman of the committee who organise the swim, said: “It was tremendous, we recorded that we had 1,200 swimmers, which is more than ever.
“There were no major hiccups, the weather was kind but there was a southerly wind blowing.”