Saundersfoot Beach was the place to be to welcome in the New Year in style, with 2,028 swimmers and thousands of spectators braving the chilly breeze for the 34th annual Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim.

The charitable event just gets bigger and better - and as the gathered masses prepared for the big event, they were entertained by the fictional long lost brother of NYDS mascot Charlie Shivers; Dai ‘The Shapes’ Shivers.

After 10 years of wowing the audiences on cruise liners, he pulled off his trademark ‘Night Fever’ moves and the crowd followed!

The swim countdown was initiated by former Glamorgan and England cricketer Simon Jones (who also joined in the event to claim his medal) and at 12.30 pm the swimmers were sent down the sands by a firework launch courtesy of Westcoast Fireworks.

The swimmers did not disappoint on the fancy dress front either. Highlights included a swarm of jellyfish, a gathering of unicorns, a Mexican ‘Tash Mob’, Peaky Blinders and an old-style American Jeep complete with GIs and a General!

Saundersfoot Festivities chairman Martyn Williams said: “The village and wider community has done us proud again. We could not have conceived 34 years ago we would be here now hosting such a major event.

“Our driving force, as always, is the huge number of fantastic causes that benefit. Thirty-three years on and this event is getting bigger and better, with thousands of pounds being raised for charity.

“The people from Saundersfoot, the surrounding areas and even further afield have come out in force to support this marvellous event despite the weather,” he added.

Thanks go to 2018 swim sponsors: Powells Cottage Holidays, Harbour Wealth, Scaffold 2000, Sunnyvale Holiday Park, Broughton Leisure Ltd, Tees R Us, Tojaz of Saundersfoot, Princes Gate Spring Water, Elston Construction, Folly Farm, Taf Valley Coaches, Sue’s Pantry, Saundersfoot Pleasure Boats, 1 Formula Fitness, Tenby Glass, Sytner BMW, Lewis, Lewis and Co Ltd, Mike Wealleans PVCu Specialist, Neil Finlay Cars, Pembrokeshire Tyres and MOT and Saundersfoot Community Council.

For further information, please visit www.saundersfootnyds.co.uk, or follow Charlie Shivers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CharlieShivers

Fancy Dress Results

Group: 1. The Jellyfish - Stepaside Coachworks; 2 Peaky Blinders - Malin House Hotel; 3. The Rock Lobsters - The Smith Family.

Individual: 1. Absolutely Fabulous Patsy - Sarah Cole; 2. The Mizzen Shirt - Mick Booth; 3. St. Greenhillian - Hilary Hughes.

Pics. Gareth Davies Photography