INTREPID groups of people braved chilly conditions to start 2017 with a dip in freezing cold water as part of a popular new year tradition.

Swimmers brushed off the cobwebs and cured their hangovers from the night before by splashing about in Earnse Bay on Walney to welcome in the new year.

Despite low temperatures of around 4C, the event still proved to be a hit with many people taking to the water to raise money for charity.

Stephanie Roberts, 33, from Barrow Island, took the plunge for a second time to raise money for Cycling UK in memory of her Barrow-born friend John Harkins, who died after being hit by a car in Leeds.

She donned a Batman fancy dress costume for the dip in honour of her friend who "adored" the Gotham-based superhero.

Mrs Roberts said: "It was great – absolutely brilliant. It didn't feel as cold as last year but that could have been because I was dressed as Batman.

"Last year I did it for a bit of hangover fun but this year it meant something and it meant a lot for my friends and family to see me dedicate something in tribute to him."

Another who took part in memory of a friend was BAE Systems employee Dan Hayes, 31, who braved the cold for the first time with friends.

Mr Hayes is doing 17 challenges in 2017 to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of well-known Walney stalwart Gordon Cooney, who died earlier this year and this was the first challenge on his list.

He said: "This one had real sentimental value because every year Gordon did this new year dip as a ritual so we thought this was a great way to start off our 17 challenges."

Gemma Quinn, 29, from Barrow, used the dip to relinquish her fear as she admitted that she used to be terrified of being in unknown waters.

After taking baby steps to overcome her fear, the mum-of-one braved the water in Earnse Bay with her fiancé Peter Gunson as she raised money for Connecting Mums and the Bluebell Foundation.

She said: "It was amazing. It has taken me over four years to get over this fear of unknown water and my fiancé has helped me get to this point so it was great to do it with him."

One of the youngest who took part for the first time was nine-year-old Hudson Posnett-Payne from Walney.

The St Columbas Catholic Primary School youngster was encouraged to get involved after watching others brave the dip with his mother, Andrea Payne.

Keen to get involved, the pair quickly rushed home to find Hudson a pair of shorts so he could join in with the fun.

The Year 4 pupil, who has so far raised £80 for the special care baby unit at Furness General Hospital in conjunction with a fundraiser organised by Barrow Raiders, said: "It was quite fun but it was really cold. It felt like -3C or -4C in there.

"People kept egging me on to duck my head in and do roly-polys in the water so I really enjoyed it."

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