MAYOR Ian Buckley braved the waters of Penarth by taking a dip on New Year's Day to raise money for Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA).

Cllr Buckley was joined by staff and friends of MHA Morel Court in order to raise £1,000 for Morel Court amenities fund.

The fund will pay for musicians to visit the care facility and for days out for the residents.

Cllr Buckley said hiring singers and musicians to visit the care facility residents is a good way of stimulating the cognitive faculties of people with dementia.

Together they have raised more than their target of £1,000 and the JustGiving page is still open here.

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Cllr Buckley said: "I see the dawn dippers going in most mornings when I'm walking my dog.

"It always looked lovely, but I hadn't been brave enough to try it."

Cllr Buckley and his wife were invited to the event by Morel Court staff and his wife volunteered them both to take part by going in to the water.

"We picked the best day ever to do this," said Cllr Buckley.

"Don't get me wrong you get an icy feeling all over, but you feel like you've achieved something when you get out.

"It was all for a good cause, they (Morel Court) look after people so well.

"Whatever we can do to make the previous generations lives a little bit better."

MHA is the largest charity care provider in the UK and support more than 18,500 older people across the country.