OTLEY'S New Year's Day swim in the River Wharfe will go ahead on Saturday.

This year's event, which is being organised by Stuart Tasker, is expected to be a quieter affair than in pre-covid times. The swim will start at Otley Bridge at 12 noon and will last for a few minutes.

Mr Tasker said: "Before Covid restrictions both river banks and the bridge over the Wharfe were packed out with spectators/well wishers etc. Last year despite it not being advertised about 20 people turned up to have a swim."

In recent years the New Year swim has been held in memory of lifesaving swimming teacher Joe Town, who died in 2011.

Each year participants have taken a dip at noon in the chilly waters to raise money for a number of charities.