Pensioner Roy Thomas will brave freezing temperatures when he and others wade into the sea at Clevedon for their annual New Year's Day swim.

Mr Thomas, 84, of Gardens Road, Clevedon, is the eldest member of the Middle Yeo Surf Lifesaving Club to take part in the fundraising dip.

Mr Thomas, a retired project manager, has been sea swimming since he was 28 years old after starting when he had a holiday caravan in Devon.

He now swims most days in the channel off the beach at Clevedon.

Mr Thomas said: "I have been all over the world during my life so I have swum wherever I have been.

"I moved to Staffordshire when I was younger and used to swim in the lakes there, but my favourite place for swimming is in the sea at Dartmouth.

"I moved to Clevedon seven years ago and have been swimming in the channel every day.

"It's going to be cold on New Year's Day, but I'm used to the temperature and am looking forward to it."

About 20 people, including veteran swimmer Len Hurley, are expected to take a dip in the channel on the first day of 2009.

The swim, organised by the lifesaving club, is at 10.30am.

Money raised from the bucket collection on the beach and prom will go to the Cleft Palette in Children charity. The group has been holding fundraisers throughout the year and is hoping the swim collection will boost the total collected to £1,000.

This year swimmers are being asked to dress up as schoolboys and schoolgirls to take to the water.

New Year's Day Swim organiser Rose Hurley, who is also a sea swimmer, said: "Water temperature at the moment is between six and seven degrees, which is pretty cold.

"We didn't have a hot summer so the water never really heated up and as a result the temperature has dropped more quickly this winter."

Mrs Hurley said she hoped crowds of supporters would line the beach on January 1 to back the swimmers and donate cash to the charity.

Swimmers will be warmed up after their dip with a feast of hot haggis and baked potatoes on the beach.