The curtain is ready to rise on Tenby’s most famous festive production - the town’s annual Boxing Day Swim.

Known as much for its wild and wacky fancy dress as its fundraising and camaraderie, this year’s event features the costume theme of Pantomime.

Dames and princes, ugly sisters and fairies - and maybe even a panto horse - will be waiting in the wings on the North Beach on Boxing Day morning, all ready to play their part in one of Britain’s top Christmas highlights.

Now in its 43rd year, and organised by the Tenby Sea Swimming Association (TSSA), the event attracts hundreds of entrants and huge crowds of spectators.

A high tide this year means that space on the sands will be at a premium, but as a bonus, the brave bathers will only have a short sprint to the sea when they dash for the splash at 11.30am.

Swimmers will be giving a helping hand to a number of good causes through their efforts - not least the four chosen by TSSA, which are Skanda Vale Hospice, the Rudy Trust, the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) charity and the District Brownies Centenary Appeal. These are:

Swimmers can also collect for their own charities and good causes.Sponsor forms can be downloaded from www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk or collected from the Fourcroft Hotel above the North Beach.