Chilly dippers

SEAFORD Lifeguards celebrated the start of 2002 with an ice cold New Year s Day dip.

Up to 200 well-wishers cheered on the brave bunch as they took the icy plunge opposite the Beachcomber pub.

The swimmers included 13-year-old Adam Doughty, Andrea Durman, Paul Langridge, Alan Jewson and Piers Culshaw.

They were joined by Seaford town clerk Len Fisher, and Jean Tonge from Canada, who was visiting family in Seaford.

Donations made by the onlookers raised 300 for Seaford Lifeguards funds. And the shivering swimmers were given a free meal and a reviving drink at the Cinque Ports pub in the High Street after their swim.

Mr Fisher, an honorary lifeguard, had taken the New Year dunk only once before. He said: 'It cleared my hangover from the night before in a matter of seconds. Just before I went in I was thinking, I m a 52-year-old man will my heart hold out? But then I reached the point of no return and adrenalin kicked in and I swam around for a few minutes. I was shaking with cold when I got out but felt quite invigorated by the afternoon.