THE traditional New Year?s Day dip in the river by the hardy Hatherleigh Walruses had to be cancelled for the first time this year ? but the town?s fire crew came to the rescue and provided plenty of pumped river water to soak the volunteers.
The heavy rain during New Year?s Eve and New Year?s Day meant the River Lew was swollen to such an extent it would have been too dangerous for the 25 Walruses to enter the water.
Ian Strawbridge, one of the organisers, said: ?The river was running bank high. It?s the first time we?ve not gone in in15 years ? two years ago we had to go in the drainage gully beside it but even that was too dangerous.
?We realised at about 11am it was going to be too high. We?ve thought about using the fire brigade before but never actually had to use them, but this year they came up trumps ? it was quite a crowd pleaser.?
The fire crews gave the walruses a good soaking using water pumped from the river.
Ian said: ?In some ways it felt just as cold, because we were more in the wind and there was a chill factor.?
The pumps also created the perfect surface for some impromptu ?belly-sliding?, said Ian, who reckoned the total collected by tin-shakers was in the region of £545.
?We were very pleased with what we collected ? obviously we have to get the sponsorship money in yet,? he said.
And the cold wet conditions did nothing to dampen the ardour of one of the Walruses.
Andrew Bennett went down on bended knee in the mud, produced a ring and proposed to girlfriend Katie Agnew after his soaking by the fire brigade.
Mayor of Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said the annual event went ?very well? despite the appalling weather conditions.
?It was very muddy and it was pouring with rain the whole time ? it was an absolute downpour,? he said.