A RECORD breaking number of people took the plunge in the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Hearts First Weymouth Bay Swim.

Some 536 swimmers braved Weymouth’s waves for the sponsored swim, which is in its fifth year.

The Deputy Mayor of Weymouth and Portland, Paul Kimber, who started the swim from the Pavilion end of the esplanade at 9.30am, greeted swimmers and presented them with medals 20 minutes to two-and-a-half hours later.

Registration took place on the esplanade from 8am and Weymouth swimming pool instructor Linda Beeby led a five-minute warm-up on the beach before the one-mile swim.

James Fackrell finished in first place with a time of approximately 20 minutes.

President of the Weymouth and Portland branch of the BHF, Peter Rendall, said: “In the first year of the swim, 17 people registered to take part and the numbers have increased year by year. Everyone seemed to enjoy the swim and were very complimentary about everything on the day.

“I received a very good response from the people I spoke to, who told me the event was very well organised.

“What was pleasing to my mind was that we had complete families of six or seven people participating in the swim this year.

“Mums, dads, sons, daughters, aunties and uncles all took part.”

Last year, the swim raised more than £15,000 for pioneering research, nurses who visit patients suffering from all types of heart conditions in their homes and educating people on reducing their risk of dying prematurely from heart disease.

Mr Rendall added: “If we can raise £20,000 to £25,000 this year, we’ll be over the moon.

“The number of people taking part was the best-ever and having the right weather for the swim too – we couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the local businesses who supplied us with fruit and water for the swim and everybody else for their encouragement and support.”