Swimmers turn out in force to brave the icy sea

A BUMPER turnout of swimmers braved the chilly sea to take part in this year’s Lyme Lunge.

Some 85 hardy took to the waves in fancy dress – well up on last year’s turnout.

For the third year the event was organised by the town’s Rotary Club and the bathers were set off on their dash to the water by Mayor Michaela Ellis, watched by around 1,000 spectators.

After a short stay in the water they headed back up the beach for a well deserved hot mug of soup.

A beach collection and sponsorship raised almost �1,400 to be split equally between the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and the Rotary Shelterbox Charity.

A spokesman for the organisers thanked the RNLI crew for marshalling the swimmers on the water’s edge, the Lyme Regis Sailing Club for providing the safety boat at sea and the By The Bay Restaurant for the hot soup.