More than 1850 swimmers and thousands of spectators welcomed in 2017 in style at the 33rd annual Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

A chilly breeze blew away the cobwebs as crowds gathered on and around the beach to enjoy the fun of the massive charity event.

Fancy dress highlights included the team of warriors from the village’s Malin House Hotel, that arrived on the beach inside a giant Trojan horse, while children and staff from Saundersfoot CP School were kitted out as Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompahs.

As anticipation mounted for the swim, the crowds were entertained by the Cold Cup fancy dress horse race, with ‘jockeys’ from local pubs and restaurants battling it out over obstacles to lift the coveted trophy.

The festivities continued with a mass participation Mannequin Challenge, captured by the drone camera of Skycam Wales Ltd.

Swimmers took part in a dance warm-up before the official start of the event by Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MP Simon Hart, and were sent on their run down the sands by a firework launch courtesy of Westcoast Fireworks.

A total of 1,856 commemorative medals were presented to swimmers as they left the beach.

The swim is organised by Saundersfoot Festivities, whose chairman, Martyn Williams, has just been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to charities.

The event has raised more than half a million pounds for hundreds of charities and good causes over the years, and Mr Williams said: “The village and wider community has done us proud again. We could not have conceived, 33 years ago, that would be here now hosting such a major event. Our driving force, as always, is the huge number of fantastic causes that benefit.”