WHILE most people were wrapping up against the cold weather more than 30 brave swimmers stripped off and took the plunge at the annual Lee Butts Dam swim.

The temperature of the water in the Todmorden dam was three degrees centigrade -- but many of the regulars have known it to be colder.

Organiser David Sutcliffe said last year the event had to be postponed for a week when they were unable to break the thick layer of ice that had formed in the freezing temperatures.

The swim, which was started by Todmorden Swimming Club in the mid-1960s to raise funds to build a swimming pool in the town, is split into three races for children, women and men.

Competitors in each race run into the water and swim for a wooden cup floating on the surface -- whoever reaches the cup first is declared the winner.

However, for many the taking part was more important than the winning because the event also helps to raise money for charity.

This year the funds raised by those daring to swim were to be donated to the Stillborn and Neo-Natal Death charity.

Competitors are also allowed to donate half of the money they raise to a charity of their choice.

The landlord of the Shannon and Chesapeake pub in Halifax Road, Todmorden, Tony Gill, who was challenged by his regulars to take part and persuaded his son-in-law Jon Hall to join him, had collected £132 for charity, some of which was being donated to Cancer Research UK.

This was the first time he had taken part in the event and admitted that he was not a strong swimmer.

He said: "I was supposed to do it last year, but chickened out.

" I am not confident in the water, but I think I could swim if my life depended on it."

Around 150 people gathered at the dam to watch the spectacle --- some armed with towels and flasks of hot drinks for loved ones taking part.

The winner of the men's race, Paul Taylor, 39, of Hebden Bridge, knew what to expect when he ran into the water, having won the event two years ago.

Paul, who is a volunteer swimming coach for the Todmorden Swimming Club, said: "I definitely went in there to win.

"But the event is really good publicity for the club and a good way to raise money for charity."

Helen Newsome, 17, of Cross Stone, in Todmorden, was also a second time winner when she scooped the cup in the women's race.

"The A-level student has won the children's race before and was competing in the women's race for the first time.

She said: "I think there has to be an element of insanity in taking part because it is very cold.

"But once you have got out you feel quite refreshed."

The winner of the children's race was 11-year-old Robin Blamire, from Todmorden.