SWIMMERS were given the chance to doggy-paddle with their canine friends at a pool party fundraiser.

Saltdean Lido hosted its first ever Dog Swim Day on Saturday, offering visitors the rare opportunity to swim alongside their beloved dogs and enjoy a day full of fun-filled activities.

The end-of-season fundraising event opened the lido up to dogs and their owners for the day, with a swimming session in the morning and afternoon.

Less than 48 hours after tickets went on sale, the lido sold out with organisers having to put on another session on Sunday.

Event organiser Julie Shepherd said: “It has been fantastic.

“We have never seen so many wagging tails.

“We even had people without dogs coming down.

“We are doing very well with the fundraising and it will go to the Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company.

“We are dog lovers and saw that other places had held similar events and thought it was just a really good, fun idea.

“I have never seen one of our Facebook posts have so many reactions and comments as the first one we put up about the event.

“Our operators, volunteers and lifeguards have been great and everyone seems to be having a brilliant time.

“We will definitely consider hosting the event again and would ideally like to make it an annual thing.”

Just as the lido has rules for human swimmers, organisers said that when dogs are not in the water they had to be kept on a lead.

Owners brought soft toys along to throw into the pool and at one point there were more than 60 dogs in the water together.

Teaching assistant Chris Ellis, 40, from Brighton, said: “I brought a school dog along with me and I think it is a really great idea.

“I came with the dog’s owner and daughter because I look after him quite a lot.

“He seems to be having a great time with all the others.”

Tony Dain, 43, from Hanover, said: “It is such a random event that we had to come and see it. We don’t have a dog with us but I would like to see it go to another level, maybe a dog gala or something.

“I think it’s a great event.”