A hardy crowd of swimmers braved the downpours on New Year’s Day at Minehead for the annual swim in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice.

John Baker, who was taking photographs, said: “Just before the start the heavens opened up and it really poured down. I think the spectators were wetter than the swimmers.”

Last year, the charity dip raised enough to pay for 80 community nurses to visit patients in their own home. This year, the charity has its heart set on smashing that target and raising enough to pay for 100 visits.

St Margaret’s nurses visit patients across Somerset with an end-of-life diagnosis every day, providing a vital service, especially in rural communities like West Somerset.

They take the time to care for patients when they need it most, but can only do so with support from the community.