Outdoor swimming enthusiasts from Dumbarton and the Vale are being invited to take part in a novel event in Luss tomorrow night (Tuesday) to raise money for a local charity.

Outdoor swimming experts Inchbaggers are organising a ‘Full Moon Swim’ in Loch Lomond to show support for the crew of the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat.

The event, as its name suggests, will take place after dark – at 8pm, to be precise – on Tuesday, September 21, with participants meeting in the car park outside the former visitor centre in the village.

The swim, which costs £10 to enter, plus a donation of the participant’s choice to the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat, is open to competent swimmers who can comfortably swim a distance of 250 metres.

Safety kayaks will be available to support swimmers.

Chris Sifleet, the founder of Inchbaggers, said: “September traditionally marks the end of the summer outdoor swim season as the colder weather starts to kick in, and with a harvest moon due, it seemed a good excuse to organise a gathering.

“Whilst safety is always our utmost concern, it’s a great opportunity for people to try a night swim in safety and raise money for a vital local community service.

“The Loch Lomond Rescue Boat does a tremendous job, especially in this last year, as more of us have taken to the outdoors.”

Participating swimmers must wear a tow float with a torch within it or a bright light attached, and can register for the swim in advance by contacting chris@inchbaggers islandswims.co.uk.

The rescue boat’s crew was called out to two tragedies in the loch in the space of 24 hours this summer – Connor Markward, 16, drowned after getting into difficulty near Balloch Park on July 23, and the following day Edina Olahova, 29, her nine-year-old son Rana, and family friend Muhammad Asim Riaz, 39, lost their lives after going swimming near Ardlui.

And that’s not the only fund-raiser being organised to help the rescue boat – as revealed in the Reporter last week, Andy Howell, the owner of Loch Lomond News at the Loch Lomond Shores shopping complex, will be running the London Marathon next month in support of the volunteer-run service.

See uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AndrewHowell14 to donate.

Inchbaggers also runs open water swimming classes at 10am every Sunday at The Cruin near Luss, with swims graded according to ability.

More information is available from inchbaggersisland swims.co.uk.