BRAVE residents from across the Island braved the cold for the traditional New Year's Day dips in January.

 
It was the ninth year for The Southern Dippers who made the event more challenging by taking part in three or four dips in a row.

A record number of dippers braved the beaches at Chapel Bay, Port St Mary Inner Harbour, Gansey Beach and Port Erin Bay.

Lenny Conroy, the founder of The Southern Dippers, said: "It was another chilly start to a new decade but a very special day.

"Seven friends started it as a bit of a laugh and this year became something of a phenomena. We had approximately 60 hardy swimmers in at Chapel Beach where two dippers, Liz Corlett and Gordon Wilshire, had already completed Peel and Castletown.

"I suspect that around 75 went in at Gansey which in the past has always proved to be the difficult one but was calm enough.

"The biggest surprise was the sheer numbers both supporting and joining the final swim at Port Erin. One photo shows at least 120 people with a few more running into view. I will be very pleased to confirm the highest-by-far number for a single swim in our history. 

"There were literally dozens of great fundraising efforts and they keep coming in but we now have over £4,000 with the promise of much more.  We're proud to say that we have now raised over £20,000 in nine years for 12 charities. 

"Next year will be the Dips' 10th year so we will have to try and plan something special or at least heat the water up!"