Hundreds of brave bathers will be taking part in one of Wales' top festive highlights on Boxing Day when they plunge into Tenby's annual charity swim.

The silly spectacle, watched by crowds in their thousands, is looking for a record turn-out this year, to top last year's figure of almost 600 dippers. Fun on the North Beach starts at 11am with a lifeboat launch, the lighting of the bonfire, sailing and canoe races and the crazy raft race, where teams will be battling it out in the briny for the prize of a trip to Prague.

The big plunge takes place at 11.30am, with prizes on offer for the best fancy-dressed bathers. This year's costume theme is Children's Favourites.

Everyone who takes a dip will be rewarded with a commemorative Tenby Boxing Day Swim medal, and is invited to warm up with free hot soup.

The swim has been held every Boxing Day for the last 37 years without fail, and has raised around £160,000 for good causes.

This year's headline charities are the Gareth Scotcher Trust Fund - set up in support of a young Tenby father with Motor Neurone Disease; the Paul Sartori Foundation 'Hospice at Home'; Diabetes UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event is organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association, whose chairman, Chris Osborne, described it as 'an action-packed, entertainment-crammed half-hour to blast away Christmas excesses'.