Nearly 600 crazy bathers who braved torrential rain to take part in Tenby's Boxing Day Swim have helped to raise over £11,000 for charities and good causes.

The morning when some of the spectators ended up wetter than the swimmers will be remembered as delivering possibly the worst weather conditions in the event's 42-year history.

"To say the rain was coming down in stair-rods is no exaggeration," said swim chairman Chris Osborne at Wednesday's presentation night.

"It was so wet that the first effort to light the beach bonfire failed, and that has never happened before.

"So, given the appalling weather, it is tribute to the swim's special place on Tenby's and Pembrokeshire's social calendar that so many people came along."

Sponsored by FBM Holidays and Lewis, Lewis and Co. Ltd., the swim saw many superb fund-raising efforts for local, national and international charities, and takes the total raised over the years to more than £225,000.

Four good causes nominated by event organiser, Tenby Sea Swimming Association, each received £400 - Meningitis UK, the Tenby and Saundersfoot branch of the NSPCC, the Tenby and District Gateway Club and PATCH (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship).

Receiving the cheque for the meningitis charity were Ann and Roy Gwilliam, of Burton Ferry, whose 18-year-old daughter Hannah died from the disease in January 2012. Less than a month earlier, she had been amongst the fundraisers at the 2011 Boxing Day Swim.

Over £54,000 has since been raised by Hannah's family and friends towards the goal of securing routine vaccinations for Meningitis B.

Said Mrs. Gwilliam: "This vaccine comes too late for Hannah, but we feel she would want us to do all we can to prevent other families from suffering."

The top group fundraising effort was by the staff and volunteers from Skanda Vale Hospice, near Llandysul, who collected £2,870 for the hospice's new palliative care unit.

The highest individual total was collected by David Dando, who raised £1,500 for MIND.

• Visit http://www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk">www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk or 'like' Tenby Boxing Day Swim on Facebook.