SWIMMERS from across Scotland went off the deep end as they swapped a good night’s sleep for an overnight dip at Gourock Outdoor Pool.

The swimmers, from Masters teams across the country, took the plunge at 7pm and swam continuously for 12 hours until 7am the next morning.

During the annual event, which was organised by the Inverclyde Masters, teams of eight swimmers took on two challenges — swimming the distance of the English Channel as well as a competition to complete the furthest distance in 12 hours.

Inverclyde Amateur Swimming Club (ASC) were first to ‘cross the channel’ in a time of eight hours and 39 minutes.

They were followed by the Ren 96 Masters, who clocked nine hours and 19 minutes. Inverclyde ASC also took the title for the furthest distance in the 12 hour period, after covering an impressive 1,436 lengths of the pool — which equates to approximately 29 miles.

Sadly the Inverclyde B team did not reach their final destination of France, they were left 1.4k from the shoreline at 7am, however it did not dampen their spirits and they have already agreed to come back next year to finish what they started.

The organisers were keen to thank everyone who took part including swimmers from the Perth Masters. Inverclyde Masters train regularly at the outdoor pool in Gourock over the summer and the Waterfront in Greenock over the winter.

The club is open to anyone interested in swimming as a fitness discipline.