TEMPERATURES plummeted but spirits soared at Charmouth for the annual Christmas Day dip in the sea.

With snow still on the ground, fancy dress swimmers made a dash for the icy waters to raise money for the RNLI.

Around 60 hardy souls took part this year in water temperatures of around six degrees.

Numbers were down on last year but hundreds more lined the beach to watch, helping to raise around £1,000 in beach collections alone, with individual sponsorship yet to be counted.

The swim is a 38-year-old tradition in Charmouth and the Grundy family, who took over the Royal Oak pub earlier this year, were happy to continue the custom.

Landlord Richard Grundy said: “The beach collection raised just over £1,000. It’s not as good as past years but with the present economic climate we should be pleased with anything anyone is willing to give.

“The swim went very well, there were lots of people down there and it was lovely weather. We had some very cold swimmers when they came out so they drank lots of hot toddies.

“The atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. It was lovely to see the amount of people turning out and putting their hands in their pockets.”

The Grundy family are long-time supporters of the RNLI. “I have been involved with the RNLI since I was 16,” said Mr Grundy. “I joined when I was young and did a lot of fundraising. My father crewed a lifeboat many years ago so the charity is close to our hearts.”

Among the swimmers was Mr Grundy’s son Phillip, 25, a Royal Marine, who was dressed as a woman.

Despite the freezing temperatures, there were grass skirts, Hawaiian garlands, and sombreros, as well as the ‘England cricket team’, complete with umpire, wickets and sun cream.

Arguably the smartest swimmers were brother and sister Tricia and Charlie Woods, who went in the water in their evening dress.

Vicki Dunstan was on holiday in Charmouth from Sydney and refused to let the freezing conditions get in the way of her annual Christmas Day swim. She said: “I normally go to the beach for a swim on Christmas Day in Australia so I had to do the same here.”

Mr Grundy wishes to thank David and Hilary Munday who did a lot of the organising.