Panto stars and Lions Club members met up to 'test the waters' ahead of the annual Christmas Day Harbour Swim.

The cast of the upcoming Dick Whittington Christmas pantomime joined Weymouth Lions Club to check whether the water was 'real cool' or 'just right'.

The Christmas Day swim will see daring participants brave the plunge in all manner of costumes to raise money for charity. Hundreds of swimmers and thousands of supports flocked to the harbour last year for the swim which has become a landmark event on the town's calendar.

Lions Club president Roger Hogbin said: "With over half of the online tickets sold already it looks like being another great success for the Lions.

"We would like to encourage swimmers to get a ticket now to save time at the swim and also to start fundraising.

"458 people took the plunge last year raising over £20,000 for a whole host of charities, we would be delighted if we could top that."

The Lions Club last year said the event was an "absolute record."

Don Laker, son of Dill Laker, began the tradition alongside Reggie Bugler when the pair swam across the harbour for a bet on Christmas Day in 1948.

Visit weymouthlionsclub.co.uk/b/events to purchase a ticket.