A SMALL group of hardy swimmers dipped their toes in the sea at Avon Beach yesterday despite the weather.

The Dare to Bare swim was scaled down to a quick dip because of the horrible conditions, but organiser Ann McGrath didn’t want to miss out completely.

The event followed one held on Boxing Day and was part of her fundraising efforts for the RNLI at Mudeford, which will culminate in her swimming the Channel in September.

She has been training in the sea at Avon Beach.

Ann, 53, a swimming teacher, said: “It was very rough down there, so we couldn’t actually go in, we just went in to our knees and had a fun paddle.

“We got wetter in the rain than in the sea.

“We’re very competent sea swimmers so we do know the danger and didn’t put ourselves in danger.”

The Boxing Day swim raised £230 and so far Ann has collected £520.