ABERPORTH’S Boxing Day Swim has been cancelled for the second successive year following the announcement of new Covid regulations coming into force at 6am on Sunday.

And within hours of the news it was confirmed that the Poppit Sands New Year's Day Swim - another of the most popular festive dips in Wales - had also been called off.

The move comes as a fresh blow to the Aberporth and Poppit Sands surf lifesaving clubs who use both well-attended events to raise funds.

In a Facebook post yesterday, Lisa Pritchard - lead organiser of the Aberporth event - said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I have to cancel this year’s Boxing Day Swim.

“Unfortunately new guidelines are coming into play from 6am on Boxing Day.”

This year the club had set a £1,000 target on their donation page for ‘some much-needed funds’ to help cover the club’s running costs.

“I would love it if everyone still did their own dip at different times during the Christmas and New Year period and would continue to make donations to the club on our page,” added Lisa.

A brief statement posted on the Poppit Sands Lifesaving Club Facebook page this morning read: "Due to the updated Welsh government guidance restricting outdoor gatherings to 50, we have decided to cancel the New Year’s Day dip.

"Stay safe guys. Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to all our members, volunteers, supporters and the whole surf lifesaving family."

The Saundersfoot New Year’s Day Swim was called off in September, while the Whitesands New Year’s Day Swim and Tenby Boxing Day Swim were cancelled last week.