Jonathon Malcolm, 38, is visiting from Zurich to see his family. He was one of the hardy types who decided to take the plunge from the board.(Picture by Tom Tardif, 0694378)

A CHILLING north-easterly breeze and patchy drizzle failed to deter dozens of people from the annual Polar Bear Swim on Christmas Day.

All parking spaces between the Half Moon and the Aquarium were taken as people prepared for their turkey and trimmings with a dip in La Vallette bathing pools.

Specsavers business development manager Ben Le Huray, 29, took part for the first time last year. This year he persuaded his father, Roger, and brother Adam, 27, to join him.

‘This was literally a Christmas Eve around the table thing of “shall we do it?” and here we are,’ he said.

His only other winter experience of the sea was of surfing in a 5mm thick wetsuit.

Adam said the water was every bit as cold as people probably thought it was.