Divers got the New Year off to a chilly start when they took the plunge in an Oxford lake.

Members of Oxford Sub Aqua Club donned wetsuits and dived into Hinksey Lake for the annual event.

The divers spent about half an hour exploring the lake on Tuesday before climbing on to dry land and enjoying hot food and drink.

Club diving officer Nick Allsworth said the New Year's Day dive started when the group was founded in 1955.

He said: "It went very well. They had a good look around at the wildlife. The visibility wasn't too bad."

The 47-year-old from Kennington said conditions were relatively mild in the lake, with a water temperature of about 6C.

He said: "Most of them were saying when they went across from one side to the other it was just completely strewn with everything - from shopping trolleys to bicycles - where people had thrown things off the bridge. It is almost a scrapheap under there.

"They saw various fish. What's also nice is to see all the birds in the lake - swans, geese, ducks and seagulls - from a different angle.

"It's certainly a good wake-up call for the day after a party on New Year's Eve."

The club meets at 8.30pm every Wednesday and Friday at their clubhouse by Hinksey swimming pool changing rooms. It also offers a snorkelling club for children.

For more information, call Mr Allsworth on 07831 747797.