Eastenders and Doc Martin actor Joe Absolom joined an enthusiastic crowd of Isle of Wight swimmers in Sandown, on New Year's Day.

Some wore fancy dress, some raised charity cash and all braved the cold for the annual traditional dip in the bay.

Joe, who is known for playing Matthew Rose in the long-running BBC soap and Al Large in the ITV comedy, posed for a photo with swimmer Sarah Tyrrell-Jones.

Meanwhile, Sarah was taking part to raise cash for the charity Breast Cancer Now.

Isle of Wight County Press: Sarah Tyrrell-Jones and her Breast Cancer Now fundraising team!Sarah Tyrrell-Jones and her Breast Cancer Now fundraising team! (Image: Sarah Tyrrell-Jones.)

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Also taking part were holidaymakers Jan Skinner, Sue Farmer, Melv Gibbs, Marc Farmer, Anthea Sealy and Ron Sealy.

They are visiting from Wiltshire and instead of relaxing in the warm, they took the plunge at Sandown - for the second year running!

Grant Taylor was first in the water, with Teddy Taylor, Harry Harding and Dolly Taylor close on his heels.

Swimmers also took to the water in Shanklin.