FUNDRAISING "legends" The Grey Dippers have smashed through their 2023 goal.

The group of nine kind-hearted men embarked on their cold water exposure journey this year after an outstanding effort in 2022.

After venturing into the cold North Ayrshire waters, predominantly in Ardrossan, the group of Lee Riddex, Tam Kane, James McLeod, James Booth, Colin Booth, Gordon Woods, Joe Smith, Tony Clarke, and David Kane raised £24,682 for North Ayrshire's foodbank last year.

Setting the same task again this year, the group aimed to take a cumulative 275 'dips' between when they started fundraising on November 1 and Boxing Day.

With more than a week until December 26, the team have smashed that target - dipping on over 300 occasions at the time of writing.

Even more impressively, they have raised almost £10,000 for the local foodbank.

Over the past two years around £35,000 has been raised for the charity in total.

The gang have been battered by waves as they brave the freezing winter conditions - often during the early hours of the morning - but they have shown brave determination to help those in need.

And it is safe to say their efforts have gone a long way in doing so, with the North Ayrshire Foodbank recently showing just how much of a difference their fundraising has made.

A post by the charity explained that in 2023, it was "only" thanks to the "magnificent endeavours" of the group in the months previous that they managed to operate at all from January through to march.

A spokesperson for the foodbank added: "The cost-of-living crisis hit food donations (which donors valiantly kept giving) in the first half of 2023.

"Seventy-five per cent of this year’s food purchases were only possible due to your generous donations via The Grey Dippers and it allowed the food to keep flowing to those most in need.

"Please keep donating to this wonderful group. The Grey Dippers fundraising is critical in our joint effort to address our fellow residents food insecurity."

For anyone wishing to make a donation, the group's fundraising page is available at tinyurl.com/thegreydippers.

To keep up to date with their efforts as they progress, be sure to check out their Facebook page.