For more than 40 years, fundraisers have been braving the icy chill to get on the water for one of Maldon’s biggest annual charity events.

Maldon Little Ship Club’s sponsored Row and Gig Race on the River Blackwater has taken a number of forms and now draws in huge gig boats from across the country.

The race always takes place at a high tide during the Christmas period to raise money for the RNLI.

The initial race course was deemed too dangerous and had to be moved to start at the club on the quayside.

At that time, skippers had to down a half pint of beer before running to their dingy.

They then raced down the river to the Maldon Yacht Club, where they had to disembark and drink another half pint of beer.

The next stop was at the Welcome Sailor, where they drank their last half pint before racing back to the club.

However, in recent years, the course had to change again to become safer for participants.

It is split in two, with a longer race for gig rowers and a shorter race for the fancy dress participants.

Last year, more than £10,000 was raised for the RNLI and has gone towards the purchase of a new lifeboat forWest Mersea RNLI.

Organiser John Rogers has been helping to run the race for the last four years and has taken part for about 35 years.

He said: “The club was set up by like-minded people who enjoyed the water and enjoyed sailing and boating.

“Then about 40 years ago, around Christmas time, they decided to raise money for the lifeboat.

“It is a really good event and people love it.”

Team Basin Oars take part in fancy dress each year and have raised thousands of pounds for the RNLI.