Brilliant costumes as record crowd turns out for Tenby Boxing Day swim

Hundreds of people took the plunge for the Tenby Boxing Day swim today with organisers saying record numbers turned up for the annual festive event.

There was a Welsh theme with swimmers dressed as dragons, rugby players, leeks, daffodils and even 20mph signs.

Organisers said around 1,225 swimmers charged down Tenby's North Beach into the chilly sea. Crowds also went for a Boxing Day swim in Porthcawl and you can see pictures of that event here.

Blue skies and sunshine brought out bumper crowds to witness the silly spectacle -taking place for the 53 rd year - with swim mascot Dilys the Dragon greeting people on the beach.

There as a warm-up session led by DJ Steve Briers, which featured a YMJCA dance and a rousing rendition of Delilah to fuel the adrenaline. There was also a soap star send-off for the crowd of swimmers, as Tenby-born Joshua Richards – who plays Bear Wolf in Emmerdale – helped drop the rope to signal the sprint to the water.

Swim chairman Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said: “It’s been absolutely amazing. We had our biggest ever turn-out of swimmers, loads of fantastic costumes and an electric atmosphere. This was Tenby at its best.”

The swim is organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association and this year is raising money for the Tenby branch of the RNLI, Tenby Sea Cadets, Tenby’s Old Chapel Community Café and Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity.

The principal sponsor is Tenby’s Harbwr Brewery and Tap Room, which has produced a special beer – named Chilly Dipper – in honour of the occasion.

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All smiles on a sunny day for the swim

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Dressed up to the nines in green and red for the Welsh theme

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