MORE than 60 hardy souls braved the chilly waters of the Solent to the encouragement of hundreds of spectators.

Teams from Hampshire fire service were among those plunging into the sea at Gosport's Stokes Bay for the annual New Year's Day dip.

The event raised thousands of pounds for charities because many swimmers were sponsored for a variety of good causes.

More than £1,000 was raised by the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS) which relies on volunteers.

Making a splash were Monica Walker, 56, and her daughter Julie Binnington, 34. They dressed in evening dresses, furs, pearls and tinsel and raised about £1,000 for the Macmillan Nurses cancer service.

Mrs Binnington said: "There was a great adrenalin rush when the start was sounded and we all ran down the slipway into the sea.

"People were cheering us on and we were all encouraging each other."

Mrs Walker, of Chantry Road, Gosport, has a good reason for supporting a cancer charity. She recovered from breast cancer, while her husband Terry, 60, has a form of bone cancer. The family thinks he might need the caring attention of Macmillan Nurses in the future.

She said: "I actually enjoyed running into that water, even though it was very cold. We might even do it again next year.

"You do feel invigorated afterwards, when you get over the cold, especially as we've done it for such a good cause."

On-duty fire crew Andy Marsh, Dave Collins, Andy Eades, Dave Burton and Steve Pearce left Gosport fire station in a fire appliance to join the dip and collected donations for the National Stroke Association.

Mr Marsh said: "Luckily we didn't have a call-out when we were in the water.

"It was good fun and we raised money for some excellent causes."