Ice swimmer heads to first European Championship

Fenwick Ridley is competing at the International Ice Swimming Association's first European Championship

A man from Northumberland is taking part in the first ice swimming European Championship.

Fenwick Ridley - known as the Ice Viking - previously won silver and bronze medals at the Ice Swimming World Championships.

Ridley is hoping to add to his medal collection when he competes at the European Championships in Oradea, in Romania.

He has asked people to show "fierce support" for the Team GB swimmers competing in the event.

The event will take place in an outdoor Olympic-size pool.

Ridley said: "We don't know yet what the temperatures will be like, but we're expecting it to be definitely below 5C which is what we class as ice swimming."

Fenwick Ridley trains in Sweethope Lough, in Northumberland

In the UK, Ridley trains by swimming in Sweethope Lough, which he describes as the coldest swim venue in England.

But when he is not in the lake, he submerges himself in an a specialist ice bath, which he lowers to between1C and 3C.

The European Championship is taking place between 1 February and 4 February.

Ridley said: "I'm really proud to be representing Team GB again and the last time was the world championships at the beginning of last year.

"I'm hoping also to be representing Team GB again in 2025 in Italy for the World Championships.

"So show some absolute fierce support for Team GB this next week."