2018 will see Cowdenbeath Civic Week celebrate its 40th anniversary so members of the organisation were delighted to see the year get off to a brilliant start on Ne'er Day.

Illness saw the hoped for 100 Loony Dookers reduced to just over 70 but the hardy group did the town proud in their Dook from a stretch of the beach at Ravenscraig Castle, at Kirkcaldy.

As ever, a minute's silence was observed before things got underway in memory of those who had lost family and friends and after the balloon race the Loony Dookers wasted no time in getting into the River Forth.

The Civic Week Committee's, Alex Haddow, said: "This is a big year for the Cowdenbeath Gala as the 40th anniversary will be celebrated in June.

"This was our biggest number yet since we started the New Year Dooks and it all added up to £4,200 being realised, which is a great start to the year.

"It was a great turn out and we thank everyone of them and also the fine number of spectators who turned out to support Dookers part, it was tremendous."

The balloons came from Hallmark, on Cowdenbeath High Street, and Alex said that the Committee were indebted to that organisation and everyone who took part and supported the Dookers on the day.

Added Alex: "We even had some seals following what was going on!"