Oakwood Theme Park is encouraging as many people as possible to support this year’s Tenby Boxing Day Swim.

The Narberth attraction is one of the hugely popular event’s main sponsors and Oakwood’s head of marketing, Clare Stansfield, is urging as many people as possible to get involved.

“We’re delighted to be sponsoring the swim as it is an amazing event which raises lots of money for local charities,” said Clare.

“It’s also an incredibly social event and a great way to start working off some of that Christmas dinner!

“As well as competitors, it attracts large crowds to cheer everyone on and really showcases the fantastic community spirit we have here,” she added.

Now in its 45th year, and organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association (TSSA), the Tenby Boxing Day Swim attracts hundreds of entrants and huge crowds of spectators.

It’s been named as one of Britain’s Top 10 barmiest festive dips and is ranked as one of Wales’ best festive highlights.

The big plunge is at 11.30 am, with hundreds of crazy bathers, many in fancy dress, stampeding for the sea, watched by large crowds from every vantage point.

This year’s fancy dress theme is Cool Cymru, as a celebration of all that’s great about Wales, and there are prizes for the best-dressed and highest sponsored swimmers.

All swimmers are presented with a commemorative medal and can warm up by the blazing beach bonfire.

Fun on the beach starts at 11 am with a canoe race and the Daitanic raft race challenge.

Staged in memory of Dai Rees, who loved taking part in the event, the crazy race has just a few simple rules: each raft entered must be made of only two barrels and some rope.

Oars are allowed and the two people on board must wear lifejackets. Crews are being encouraged to collect sponsorship for the Dai Rees Foundation/Life Support Nepal.

Swimmers can collect for their own charities or good causes, or those nominated by TSSA, which this year are Crossroads; Tenby Surflink and Tenby RNLI.

The event’s other sponsors are FBM Holidays; Lewis, Lewis & Sons and Princes Gate.

• For more information, and to download a sponsor form, visit www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk.