More than 200 swimmers turned out on a bright and sunny day for a charity sea swim.

They flocked to the beach in Hove, in swimming trunks and wetsuits to tackle the 1K route set for them by the British Heart Foundation.

It was the first time the event has taken place in the city and three different groups tackled the water at different times.

The first swim was at 9am on Saturday but participants had spent the previous ten minutes warming up on Hove Lawns, ready for the chilly water.

The first group to take to the sea were the sharks, regular sea swimmers who were given 30 minutes to complete the course.

The dolphins, regular pool swimmers, were next up at 9.55am. They had 50 minutes to complete the course.

Seals were the next group to tackle the course and left the beach at 11.20am.

They are classed as fun swimmers who are in good health and they had one hour and 30 minutes to complete the swim.

Friends and family flocked to the beach to watch their loved ones complete the course.

Participants had to be over the age of 14 to take part in the event.

The British Heart Foundation helps to fund research into heart and circulatory disease – Britain's biggest killer.

For more information go to www.bhf.org.uk.