OVER 2,000 swimmers and thousands of spectators have welcomed the new year in splashing style in Saundersfoot.

The 34th annual Saundersfoot New Year's Day Swim (NYDS) was the biggest and best ever.

Fancy dress highlights from the 2,028 dippers included a swarm of jellyfish, a gathering of unicorns, a Mexican 'tash mob', Peaky Blinders and an old-style American Jeep complete with GIs and a General.

As the gathered masses prepared for the big event, they were entertained by Dai 'The Shapes' Shivers - the fictional long-lost brother of NYDS mascot Charlie Shivers. After 10 years of wowing the audience on cruise liners, Dai pulled off his trademark Night Fever moves and the crowd followed.

The swim countdown was initiated by former Glamorgan and England cricketer Simon Jones - who also joined in the event to claim his medal - and at 12.30pm, the swimmers were sent down the sands by a firework launch courtesy of Westcoast Fireworks.

The charity swim is organised by Saundersfoot Festivities, whose chairman, Martyn Williams, said: "The village and wider community has done us proud again.

"We could not have conceived, 34 years ago, we would be here now hosting such a major event.

"Our driving force, as always, is the huge number of fantastic causes that benefit."

*See Wednesday's Western Telegraph for more photos of the Saundersfoot New Year's Day Swim.