BRAVE fundraisers will be facing cold temperatures and taking the plunge with a charity swim on New Year's Day - all dressed as superheroes.

Around 20 swimmers aged between 18 and 70 will be taking to the cold waters at Newton's Cove in Weymouth.

The group will be raising funds for the Weymouth Surf Lifesaving Club at the event, which has been organised by Fay Edgar from Jurassic Coast Swimming.

The 45-year-old from Maiden Newton said: “It’s the first one of the year on New Year’s Day having done Boxing Day and we’re looking forward to it.

“We’ve picked a superhero theme because in my eyes anyone who gets in the water around this time of year is a superhero.”

Those braving the cold January waters will be raising money for Weymouth Surf Lifesaving Club, a non-profit organisation which promotes water safety and teaches lifesaving skills at all levels, and which Ms Edgar volunteers for.

She said: “I run coaching sessions and guided swims in open water and I have really got a good group who want to swim in the winter.

“We want to try to raise funds, especially after Covid, because we've had problems with training others and we have lots of kids waiting to join.”

Cold water swimming offers a number of health benefits and is known to help with issues including anxiety and depression.

Demand for the activity has soared since the start of the pandemic, says Ms Edgar.

She added: “Cold water swimming really picked up over the course of 2021. I only had two groups a week and now I have five or six.

“And there has also been a big increase in the people interested in safety, so it means more people know the risks.”

The New Year’s Day swim will start at Newton’s Cove in Weymouth at 11am running until midday.

Following the dip there will be hot chocolate and cake on hand to tuck into, which Ms Edgar says is the best part and is available after every swim the group take part in.

Further information about the event and future swims can be found on the Jurassic Coast Swimming’s website.