What better way to spend your weekend then splashing about and having fun in a pool? – whilst raising money for a charity of your choice.

The Dorchester Lions’ more inclusive, family-orientated Fun Swim is being held this weekend and members are calling on more people to sign up.

The two-day event takes place on Saturday and Sunday at 1610 Sports Centre on Coburg Road.

The fun will be officially kicked-off by the Mayor of Dorchester, Councillor Susie Hosford, at 1.30pm on the Saturday.

In addition to the traditional and well-established 55 minute timed sessions for teams in the main pool on both days, the Lions Fun Swim is offering something a little different this year.

There will be a host of other activities and small pool challenges for children of all ages and abilities.

Andy Rose from the Lions is looking forward to the introduction of the ‘Aqua-Glide’ - a fun challenge involving circuits of the small pool using self-propelled sit-on ‘bikes’ and is suitable for the under-8s.

There will also be ‘Aquafit’ and ‘Aquathon’ workouts and the infamous Inflatable Challenge in the main pool will be the last session on both days.

Another new event, the ‘Triathlon Taster’ , will take place on Sunday in the main pool. This is a new event for both the Lions and 1610 and involves a 15 length swim, 6km cycle before finishing with a 2km run.

Mr Rose said: “We’d like to emphasise that the Lions Fun swim is an event for all - have fun together, raise money for your favourite good cause or charity, get sponsorship by setting your own personal challenge.

“It is not an Olympic trial so ‘personal challenges’ can be anything from completing one width of the small pool with a float, staying on the inflatable challenge for a period of time, or swimming lengths in the popular team relay in the main pool. All entrants can set their own target.

“We have plenty of capacity in both pools - so we want as many as possible to take part - and make this a successful community fund-raising event.”

Dorchester Lions supported more than 30 local and community causes through 2017 and this year they will be supporting MIND West Dorset and Dorchester CAB with proceeds from their fundraising events.

Contact tony.howden@hotmail.co.uk or ring Bill on 01305 267832 or Andy on 01305 267481 as soon as possible to book a time to enter.

Registration packs can also be collected from 1610 or the Tourist Information centre, Dorchester Library.

There is no cost to enter and everyone who takes part gets a medal, but the Lions do ask that all those who participate obtain sponsorship or donate a minimum of £5 to make the Fun Swim a successful fund-raising event.

For more information visit lionsdorchester.org.uk/events/funswim