LOCAL charities have received a welcome boost after the organisers of Lowestoft's Christmas Day swim paid out from last year's event.Over 200 swimmers braved the cold North Sea for the annual tradition and, after a month of collections, organisers this week announced the final total.

LOCAL charities have received a welcome boost after the organisers of Lowestoft's Christmas Day swim paid out from last year's event.

Over 200 swimmers braved the cold North Sea for the annual tradition and, after a month of collections, organisers this week announced the final total. They also took the chance to praise those who turned out for one of the coldest swims in its 32 year history and thank all of those who helped make the event such a success.

Through the Christmas Swim a total of �9,390 has now been paid to charities and local good causes.

The groups and organisations to benefit are �250 for the RNLI, �250 for Lowestoft lifeguards, �330 club 85, �650 Abbeyfields, �1,000 Crossroads Care, �500 May Centre, �200 Lowestoft Live Arts, �1,000 Alzheimer's Society, �450 Lowestoft Visually Impaired Activities, �1,500 Waveney Hospice Care, �700 East Anglian Association for the Blind, �800 Waveney Rape and Abuse, �800 Waveney Women's Health, �300 DIAL and �650 Fightback Trust.

The applications for charities to be considered for the 2010 swim will start late summer. For more details see www.splash4cash.org.uk