'Hercule Poirots' take to the waters to signal start of Bay's International Agatha Christie Festival

The International Agatha Christie Festival in Torbay has opened with a splash - and not a dead body in  site.

More than 300 swimmers headed for Beacon Cove in Torquay, where Dame Agatha learned to swim, for the Agatha Christie Sea Swim.

In very choppy conditions, the swimmers took to the waters on Saturday for the opening event of this year’s festival.

The ‘Agatha Christie Sea Swim’, which is in its tenth year, attracts swimmers from around the country, as well as locals.

The Surrey Open Water Swimmers had travelled down the night before, and despite being an all-female group were all sporting Hercule Poirot moustaches.

Also taking up this facial attire were The Looe Sea Swimmers who joined the event from Cornwall.

Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions the usual course round from Beacon Quay, near the old Living Coasts site, to Meadfoot beach, had to be curtailed and instead swimmers completed a triangular route round the rocks underneath The Imperial Hotel.

A dozen lifeguards on paddleboards manned the event, ensuring the everything was safe. Money raised went to Rowcroft Hospice, and although the elements were against them, organisers still be delighted that this festival opening event still went off swimmingly.