SWIMMERS braved the freezing weather to take a dip in the icy waters of Cotswold Water Park on Saturday in an event which aims to encourage people to get into open water swimming.

Since its inception two years ago, Chilly Dippers is organised by Waterland Outdoor Pursuits and South West Swim and comprises of a series of four events every winter with the aim to encourage people to try the sport as it grows in popularity across the UK.

On Saturday, 20 brave souls took to the waters and swam various distances from 50 metres to 1km with the water temperature being recorded at a chilly 3C.

Jason Tait, 41, who is an open water specialist coach for South West Swim, said since coming up with the concept, the event has gone from strength-to-strength in attracting people to take part.

He said: “Open water swimming is a growing sport and a lot of people do it in the summer for triathlons because they don’t like training in a swimming pool. So instead, people from all over come here to the lake and get in and have a go. In the winter especially, you swim for a lot less time and distance but because of the intensity, you see it grow in popularity every year.

“Most people doing open water swimming for the first time would only manage a few minutes with these temperatures and that is why we do a beginners event at 50m which is still a challenge. It might only be two lengths in a swimming pool, but in temperatures like we had on Saturday, it can be considered as an extreme sport and for those people just starting off it is difficult.

“As you get more involved and continue to swim in the lake, your body becomes acclimatised but the mentality of getting in the water doesn’t get any easier.”

Chilly Dippers was first set up by Jason and Jo Pendlebury from Waterland Outdoor Pursuits after they realised there was no winter swimming events in the south west that would allow entrants to wear a wetsuit.

With that in mind, the pair have openly encouraged swimmers to go along in whatever they please, whether that be a costume, wetsuit, gloves, boots or hat.

Jason, who has been a swimming coach for the last four years, added that with safety in mind, there are entry requirements for distances of 400m and above and entrants must be 16 years and over to take part.

He said: “With open water swimming, most people take part as it is a personal challenge or fear they want to overcome and the hardest bit is probably getting in the water in the first place.

“We don’t expect huge numbers but we wanted to create a place where people could come and swim in a safe manner.”

Chilly Dippers, which is in its second year, will hold its next event on February 11.

To sign up, visit www.chillydippers.co.uk