CALLING all swimmers and guppies - there’s still time to enter the annual Taunton Soroptimist Swimathon next month.

The swimathon is in it’s 29th year and has already helped raise over £577,000 for charities and good causes.

Organisers say there are still lanes available for the event, which takes place at Taunton School on February 18 and 19, and they hope to fill them.

Christine Briggs, swimathon co-ordinator, said: “As everyone gets back to reality after Christmas festivities, a lot of people think of getting fit and losing the excess they may have put on over the Christmas period.

"Well the Soroptimist Swimathon is a way to do this.

“You really do not need to be a good swimmer, you just need to be able to swim 50 metres ( two lengths of the pool) as teams of six swim in relay fashion for 53 minutes.

“It’s all about having fun while raising money for local good causes.“All the swimmers receive a medal and there are lots of trophies to be won as well.

"Last year we raised £,17,000 and we would like to raise even more this year."

The Soroptimist’s chosen charities for 2017 are: Stand Against Violence, Apple FM Community and Hospital Radio, Taunton Association for the Homeless and Mother and Baby Home in the Taunton Area, Supported by Life.

All of the charities are locally based organisations who rely on the generosity of people across Somerset to fund their much needed work.

Since the event started in 1998, £594,000 has been raised for charities and organisers hope to raise a significant amount again this year.

So, if you think you can get a team together to take part, book a lane by phoning the Swimathon booking officer on 01823-423187, or email taunton.swimathon@outlook.com or download a form from the website: sigbi.org/taunton/soroptimist-swimathon and join in the fun.

You can also get an entry form from the TSB Bank in North Street.

Entry is £10 per team.