The Tenby Boxing Day Swim’s record-breaking turnout of over 700 crazy charity dippers has helped to raise the serious sum of nearly £8,300 for good causes.

Their big splash was in the 48th legendary charity event, where the fancy dress theme of Space Travel inspired some out-of-this-world costumes and even a giant rocket which took to the water.

The swim, organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association (TSSA), resulted in at nearly £6,400 being raised by bathers for their own charities.

Meanwhile, as a result of the event’s bucket collection and other sponsorship, TSSA has been able to donate £1,000 each to The Stroke Association and the Huntington’s Disease Association, as well as £50 each to the event’s safety cover providers – St John Ambulance, Tenby Coastguard, Pembrokeshire Paddlers and Tenby Surflink.

There was also a £50 donation to Tenby RAF Air Cadets who did a sterling job in their first year in charge of the beach bonfire.

TSSA also organises the summer-time Caldey Swim between the monastic island and the mainland, which was regrettably cancelled twice last year because of weather conditions.

A number of entrants donated their fees to Tenby RNLI, which resulted in a further presentation of £1,500.

This summer’s Caldey Swim will take place – weather permitting – on August 18 and is already a sell-out.

Tenby’s mayor, Councillor Sue Lane, handed over the cheques at the presentation evening in the town’s mayor’s parlour last Thursday.

Awards were also made to the highest-sponsored swimmer, Nigel Smith of Bridgend, who raised £2,045 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association; the highest-sponsored swimmer for TSSA funds, Diane Mumford, who raised £211 and the top-sponsored group, Skanda Vale, who raised £791 for their hospice’s residential care wing.

The Daitanic Raft Race, in memory of Dai Rees, was won by Team Price, while Rowan Kettle won the kayak race.

The Tenby Boxing Day Swim was sponsored by FBM Holidays, Princes Gate Water and Harbour Wealth Management.