THOUSANDS of people flocked to Crooklets Beach in Bude for one of the largest Christmas Day dips since the event first began.

The Christmas Day swim is organised by Bude Life Saving Club (SLSC) to raise funds for the club and in memory of former member Mike Moyle.

The event drew one of the biggest crowds since it began in the early 1980s. Within an hour more than 3,000 people arrived at the beach to take part or watch the swim, meet and chat with friends and relatives and then disperse as quickly as they arrived. The Bencoolen Wreckers warmed up the crowd with carols and folk songs on the clubhouse balcony.

More than 500 people braved the chilly waters, helping to raise funds, which will go towards clubhouse repairs.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.