CROWDS of brave swimmers braved the chilly weather to start 2011 by taking a dip at Topsham Swimming Pool.

Cyril Harrison president of the pool which is run by a team of volunteers was thrilled with the turnout at the popular annual New Year’s Day swim.

He said: “We ended up with nearly 500 people in there. As ever, it was really well attended. People tend to travel from all over the place to come along.”

The event marked the introduction of a new �30,000 condenser boiler.

“We wanted to use the day as a chance to test the new boiler and give it a good run-out before we open for our summer season,” added Mr Harrison.

“It’s a great boiler which we hope to save a great deal of fuel with this year. We should manage to cut our bills in half.”

The New Year’s Day swim has taken place since the start of the millennium.

Mr Harrison said: “It started off as a bit of an experiment and has grown from strength to strength ever since.”

Those who attended were treated to hot soup and cakes after they had taken a dip.

Topsham Swimming Pool, an independent, non-council facility, reopens for its summer season on Saturday, May 15.

Colin Long, chairman of the pool’s association, said they were always on the lookout for more volunteers to help out.

“There is a lot of work that goes on to prepare the pool for each day it is opened, like cleaning around the water,” he said.