'Manningtree Mermaid' embraces the elements with a daily dip in the river during pandemic

• Watch this video report by ITV News Anglia's Victoria Lampard

Many people have been finding new ways to spend time during the pandemic and that has included embracing the great outdoors. Kellie Rogers, who lives on the Essex-Suffolk border, has been swimming in the River Stour estuary every day since the start of the pandemic.

She has become known locally as the 'Manningtree Mermaid' and has inspired others to go for a dip too.

It began as a way to exercise while the gyms were closed but as the colder months arrived it soon turned into a challenge to see how far she could push herself both mentally and physically

Kellie is a therapist and her business Harmony Tree aims to help guide people into a greater place of calm.

Her daily swims have inspired others to get involved too and she’s helped to ease them into what can be very cold temperatures.

Cold water swimming is growing in popularity, with people claiming that regular dips have transformed their health and wellbeing.

Research suggests it can have some benefits like better circulation, reduced stress and a boosted immune system.

When Kellie began her daily swims she had no idea a group of like-minded people would be brought together.

No matter how early high tide may be, there is always some company to be had as the group venture into the river each morning.