‘A good way to shake off some Christmas excess’

It was the 19th year the swim took place at Cobo Bay and good weather and a high tide meant thousands turned up to swim in superhero fancy dress or to spectate.

The temperature was around 10C and one group of friends said it felt warmer in the water than out.

‘It actually feels colder out of the water. We dressed up as superheroes even though it’s our first year because if you’re going to do it you might as well do it properly.

‘You have to get your feet off the ground as well.

‘Those are the rules.

‘We’re all going to warm up by doing a pub crawl back into Town and probably some mulled wine,’ said Sarah Porter, 33, who took part with friends Martin and Michelle Young.

Friends Hannah Williams, 32, and Georgina Burrows, 31, have been sea swimming together for years and make the dip an annual tradition.

‘We swim all year round but we like the atmosphere down here.

‘It’s nice to see everyone out and enjoying the sea.

‘It’s perfect today, it was really warm.

‘We find sea swimming rebalances you, it’s good for physical and mental health,’ said Ms Burrows.

‘We also hope it raises a lot of money for a great charity and it’s a good way to shake off some of the Christmas excess,’ said Ms Williams.

The Trump family came out to support the event because it was so well organised.

‘It’s just such a great event they put on, it’s so well managed.

‘It’s the second time I’ve done it now, it’s a good way to get rid of the Christmas hangover,’ said Kevin Trump, 55.

One of this year’s organisers, Phil Trouteaud, said the event had grown considerably.

‘From what used to be just 200 swimmers together to thousands, the old organiser, Dave Chester, was gobsmacked by the amount of people here today.

‘If people still need to donate to the charity they can do by going to justgiving.gg,’ he said.