MORE than 400 swimmers took part in Poole’s annual charity Swimarathon at the weekend.

The event is now in its 35th year and organisers hope they will make at least £13,000 for a range of worthy causes. At the end of the event, £11,700 had been pledged, with more to follow.

Poole Lions Club runs the Swimarathon in conjunction with Poole Bay Rotary and the Soroptimists of Poole.

Organiser Ray Kressinger said: “It has been manic here at poolside.

“The atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant and the spectators have been great. The organisation has been fine but we’ve been slightly down on numbers compared to previous years. I don’t think the present economic situation has helped, but we’ve had lots of loyal supporters who have entered multiple teams.”

A total of 63 teams of six swimmers completed laps in a relay over 55 minutes, down from 81 teams in 2012.

This year the charities to benefit are Julia’s House children’s hospice, Forest Holme palliative care unit, the Chestnut Nursery sheltered work project, heart monitors for Alderney Hospital, Home Start South East Dorset, which offers support for families, and The Purple Teardrop refuge for trafficked women.

Ray said: “This has been my first year organising the Swimarathon. The mayor and her consort have been in to meet all the kids. We’ve raised more than £750,000 in the 35 years, which is pretty good going.”

The two-day event took place at Dolphin Swimming Pool.

Ray said: “We have a hard core of people who enter year in year out. I’d like to thank everyone who swam, supported or sponsored the event in any way.”