BRAVE New Year dippers once again took a bracing plunge into the sea off Barmouth on 1 January and raised £1,000 for the local RNLI.

Crowds gathered at the boathouse on Barmouth promenade to watch over 60 friends and visitors from far and wide take the plunge to raise money for the RNLI.

At 11 am, on the instructions of Coxswain Peter Davies, young and old raced down to the shoreline and threw themselves into the sea.

Under the watchful eye of the crew of the Barmouth RNLI D Class inshore lifeboat, the Craig Steadman and the UK Coastguard service, they brought a welcome splash of colour and fun to the first day of January 2018.

After their dip, hot drinks and a warming barbecue breakfast were served in the Lifeboat station, and the cannons were again fired at noon in remembrance of past crew members.

Coxswain Peter Davies said: "All our RNLI volunteers and fundraisers are extremely grateful to locals and visitors who came from all corners of the UK to take part in the dip.

"Not only for their bravery today, but for their enthusiasm and continuing support for the charity that saves lives at sea. We have raised over £1,000 today and there is still more sponsorship money to be collected.

"This is a great start to another year of fundraising, thank you all very much."

See more photos from the day in Thursday’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News