IN PICTURES: Fundraisers brave cold waters for RNLI’s Christmas Day swim

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

While many families spent their Christmas morning opening presents and starting their festive celebrations, dozens of Weston swimmers took to a cold lake, in Knightstone Road, to raise vital funds for the RNLI and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mulled wine and hot drinks were sold to the gathering crowd which lined the lake from 10am before friends and family charged into the freezing waters in their best elf, Santa and reindeer costumes.

The annual fundraising event has been running for more than 10 years and was organised by the RNLI this year, with the crew also taking to the water in their drysuits to cheer on the swimmers.

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)

Christmas Day swim hosted by Weston RNLI at the Marine Lake. Picture: MARK ATHERTON (Image: Archant)