More than 400 swimmers took a Christmas Day plunge into Weymouth Harbour in Dorset today.

The cross harbour swim event is now in it’s 75th year. It was started back in 1947 when harbour side pub landlords challenged each other to a cross-harbour swimming race.

Since then, the event has grown and grown - one year 500 swimmers turned up! That meant that 10 races out of the 50 swimmers had to be arranged.

This has become a large charity fundraising event and is organised by the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club.

Not only swimmers get involved. The harbourside vantage point allows for thousands of spectators to witness the Christmas swimmers plunging into the harbour for each race.

The average water temperature at this time of year is around 8 degrees Celsius.

Some opt for the briefest of swimwear. Although many do go for the fancy dress option, making it a chilly but colourful festive event for the Dorset coastal town.

In recent years swimmers have come from Abu Dhabi, Singapore, France and the Netherlands as well as from Liverpool, Lancashire and even a group from Scotland taking the plunge this year.