PLUCKY paddlers will be leaving their presents at home as they take part in this year's Christmas Day swim in Charmouth.

The swim has been a tradition in the village for 40 years, with the Royal Oak pub in the village taking on the role of organisers as current landlords Phil and Angie Aylett have been doing for this year's event.

They are expecting around 200 people to attend the event, including those watching and those going for a Yuletide swim.

The event will start at 11am on Christmas Day on the beach, with organisers urging people who want to take a dip in the sea to arrive a bit earlier, due to traffic and parking.

Angie Aylett, who is helping organise this year's swim, said: “The best thing is that people of all ages get involved. It's lovely because people who have lived in the village for a long, long time get involved, plus people who are new to the area, plus all the youngsters.

“Plus, people that come from quite far away come down to either watch it or get involved.

“It gets everyone out of the house on Christmas Day and it gets everyone together and there is always a lovely community spirit and a great happy atmosphere.

“There is always a fair bit of fancy dress as well. Last year there was someone dressed as the queen, and mankinis are always popular, and Phil went in dressed as one of the Blues Brothers, but you don't have to be in fancy dress to do it.”

The Royal Oak pub will be providing free ‘hot toddies’ to those who go into the sea, and will also be serving other refreshments to the crowds. Members of the RNLI will also be there making collections for the charity, before everyone returns to the Royal Oak Pub to count the money and have a festive tipple.