Nearly 600 crazy Boxing Day bathers in Tenby braved a chilly wind and freezing sea to take the plunge in one of Britain's top festive events.

Crowds of spectators packed every vantage point around the resort's North Beach on Tuesday and cheered on the best ever turnout of 596 men, women and children - many in colourful fancy dress reflecting the theme Heroes and Villains - stampede the short distance into the water at the crack of a coastguard maroon.

Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Trevor Hallett, Deputy Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths, and mace bearers John Morgan and Rob Scanlon, were on hand to give the 36th Tenby Sea Swimming Association-organised event a civic salute. Clr. Hallett also judged the fancy dress competition, while among those brace enough to brave the briny in only a pair of shorts was Tim Brace, of swim sponsors FBM Holidays.

Once again, this year's dip had participants from all around the globe. Twenty-one-year-old Esteban from Equador who works at The Albany Hotel proudly flew his country's flag to keep him warm, while Liam McGahan and his sons Ryan, 12, and Brett, nine, who have emigrated from Zimbabwe to Warwickshire, donned bright South African shirts. Meanwhile, also braving the cold were Bryn and Rees Ward from Lower Hutt (Wellington), New Zealand.

"It is much warmer at home and we certainly don't have traditions like this," said Esteban who was joined in the waves by workmate Martin Brown, of Laugharne.

Over 100 people also took part in Tenby's sister swim in Norfolk, Virginia, USA, which was founded by former Saundersfoot man Dai Roberts when he was posted at the Nato HQ there. Dai and his family who have recently returned to the States were among those to take part, while Dai's mother-in- law Lillian Lang was actually among the dippers in Tenby.

While most of the swimmers in Tenby were in and out of the water - said to be two degrees warmer than 2005 at nine degrees - in a flash and back to claim their commemorative medal and warm up by the bonfire and with soup served by Tenby and Saundersfoot Lions, swim regular Chris Page and John Rees stayed in the longest - 15 minutes!

DJ Steve Briers was on hand to give a seasonal commentary, while safety cover was provided by Surflink - patrolling in their jetski safety boat sponsored by Oakwood, Tenby's RNLI inshore lifeboat, St. John Ambulance and HM Coastguard.

Prior to the swim, there was plenty of fun and frolics with races involving Tenby Rowing Club and the Pembroke Paddlers, and the ever-popular raft race, which was hotly contested by three teams. Winners of the Golden Monkey Trophy and a power kite donated by Chevron, Pembroke Refinery, were Dai and Richard Rees and Phil Willoughby aboard their 'Titanic' raft.

Chris Osborne, chairman of Tenby Sea Swimming Association, said he was 'very impressed' with the success of another record-breaking event.

"Despite a small beach and big wind, yet again, the residents and visitors of Tenby have surpassed themselves," he said.

Over the years, Tenby's Boxing Day Swims have raised nigh on £150,000. Last year's plunge - which attracted a record 572 entrants - collected £21,000.

Swimmers can collect for their own good causes or for the charities chosen by the organisers, the Tenby Sea Swimming Association. This year, TSSA is backing Macmillan Cancer Support, Mencap Cymru, the Tenby Talking Newspaper, Tenby Sea Cadets and the Arthritis Research Campaign.

Already, the bucket collection has totalled the magnificent sum of £1,935.64, so hopes are high that bumper sums will be raised.

Swimmers are asked to hand in their sponsorship money as soon as possible so that the final amount can be calculated.

Footnote: A commemorative medal will also be on its way to swim veteran Freddy Brown, of Pembroke Dock. As reported in last week's issue, Mr. Brown was unable to take part in this year's Boxing Day Swim and the New Year's Day dip in Saundersfoot on the appropriate days, so he held his own one- man event last week, accompanied by his pet dog Shep. Freddy was raising funds for a new prostate cancer laser machine at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

Swim thanks

Tenby Sea Swimming Association would like to thank FBM Holidays for their generous sponsorship of the event, and is also grateful to Dylan Bendall, of Wycraft, for the production and sponsorship of the medals; Haven Colourprint for sponsorship of the posters; Chevron, Pembroke Refinery, for the power kite which is the first prize in the raft race; and Tenby Cinema, The Buccaneer, New Hedges Mini-Market, Kilgetty Co-op, Woolworths, Tenby and Tesco for the fancy-dress prizes.

Fancy dress winners

Children's group - Tenby Juniors Year Six (Superheroes) Individual child - Annie Jeremias, Tenby (Captain Jane Sparrow) Adult group - St. Florence School staff (Clowns) Mixed group - Jane Hewitt and Robyn Bowen, Spittal (Cruella DeVil and dalmation) Adult individual - Glenn Wilde, Poole (The Joker)