A MERMAID has been spotted in Chester City Baths – as part of a big charity challenge.

Throughout February, Tara Connolly is swimming 198 laps of the Atlantic pool at the baths to raise funds for the RNLI, all while dressed as a mermaid.

She is undergoing this task in memory of her dad, Martin, who sadly passed away last year.

Tara said: “He had wanted to raise funds for the RNLI. It’s such a great cause, you can call them our fourth emergency service; with their volunteer lifeboat crews providing life-saving assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week all along our coastline and in our waters.

"I asked Chester City Baths if they could help me, as my dad learned to swim in their pools and it’s also where he taught me to swim.

"But, as I used to be a strong swimmer, I didn’t think 198 laps of the pool (making nearly three miles), for the 198 years the RNLI has existed, was enough of a challenge – so I chose to swim these laps as a mermaid.”

Explaining why she has chosen the look of a mermaid, Tara said: “My dad took me to see the mermaids out in Florida when I was younger, so I thought it was all a very nice link.

"That was until I tried it! My goodness, it’s hard work! Every muscle ached – I mean, are you meant to feel your diaphragm?

"At least all my sponsors know that there’s a lot of work going in to winning their donations.”

If you would like to donate to the RNLI to help Tara achieve her sponsorship target, please visit her Justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tara-connolly4.

Tara would like to remind everyone that this is a tough challenge. Swimming with a fin or even a tail should only be attempted by strong swimmers, with permission of the pool and in the presence of lifeguards.

Chester City Baths has also been raising funds themselves to help repair the historic, Pacific pool which was damaged when it was drained during Covid.

The amount has been raised to repair the damage to the Victorian tiles, but the City Baths could still do with a helping hand to refill and heat the pool. For more information, visit https://www.chestercitybaths.com/