Children joined some 800 people taking to the estuary for an annual charity event.

Children joined hundreds of open water swimmers for the first time this year at The Outdoor Swimming Society’s annual Swoosh event at Bantham.

The charity event sees hundreds of intrepid adult swimmers take to the water on the turning tide and swim 6km downstream from Aveton Gifford to the sea at Bantham.

This year however, 45 ‘little dippers’ were given the chance to do a ‘Mini Swoosh’ accompanied by adults and safety teams, a few hundred metres from below the Bantham Boathouse to the finish line beyond the iconic pink house at Jenkins Quay.

After the main 6k adult swim was over, the children were taken with their ‘adult’ on jetskis from the finish line upstream to get in the water and swim for the final 500 to 600 metres of the course and experience the famous ‘swoosh’ of the ebbing tide.

Organiser Kate Rew of the OSS said of this year’s pilot project: “With scorching sun and the clearest water we’ve seen, the fourth Bantham Swoosh felt like the best so far. Last year the tide meant we had dawn and dusk swims, this year we had 800 people jump in at 7.40am, with a mini swoosh to follow for 40 children aged six and over.

“It was fantastic for parents to share their passion for water with the next generation. This isn’t a competitive event, and behind the swimmers there are many stories: we have zero to heroes for whom this is the first time; fundraisers for Aveton Gifford Community Pool and Level Water; people swimming through life’s ups and downs; and people coming along with friends for a good time in a beautiful part of the world.

“Heartfelt thanks go to Bantham Estate and the local communities that make this possible, including the small army of volunteers that work their socks off from dawn to dusk.”

Owner of Bantham Estate, Nicholas Johnston said: “We were thrilled to be able to welcome the Outdoor Swimming Society back to Bantham for the fourth annual Swoosh event. This is such a happy occasion with many swimmers returning to the River Avon, and we hope that those that were here for the first time found the day to be filled with personal enjoyment and sporting achievement.

“It was a special day to start our busy summer season.”

When the event first started in 2015, 200 people took to the water, raising money for a range of charities including local Aveton Gifford Swimming Pool. In 2017, six swimmers raised a total of £2,567, and in 2018, six swimmers are aiming to raise a target of £2,950 for the community pool.

The other charity benefitting from Swoosh is Level Water, which fundraise to give free swimming lessons to children with disabilities.

For more information about the charity, visit www.levelwater.org/learn-to-swim.