IT takes more than freezing rain to discourage intrepid Lyme Lungers who donned their costumes, shook off their hangovers and went into the sea.

The event is organised by the Lyme Regis Rotary club.

Club press officer John McCallum said: "An estimated 1200 spectators watched in the cold rain as nearly 600 crazy swimmers in fancy dress laughed and squealed as they raced into the waves, ably protected from harming them-selves in the stormy waters by our indomitable lifeboat crew."

This year was the ninth Lyme Lunge organised by the Lyme Regis Rotary Club and it took place on the sandy beach, at 1pm on New Year’s Day.

So far the club has raised more than £2500 with an expectation of considerable additional monies coming in from promised sponsorship.

All monies will be donated to MacMillan Cancer support.

Mr McCallum added: "Well done everyone involved. Thanks to our sponsors for their support, By the Bay for tasty hot soup for all swimmers, the town crier for immense help and for leading the parade, lifeboat crew for safety in the water, St John’s Ambulance, Axminster Rotary Club, and friends of Rotary who also helped enormously.

"It's great fun, it supports the whole community and it helps a great cause."