MANY people have almost completed their dry January but one woman has been too busy getting soaked on a daily basis.

Mother-of-one Helen Edwards has been bracing freezing temperatures by taking a dip every day this month in icy wild waters to raise cash for Oxford Homeless Pathways.

And even though she has several more plunges to take before her challenge is complete, the East Oxford resident has already smashed her fundraising target after raising more than £1,600.

Ms Edwards said she wanted to help the city's homeless charity and raise awareness of the issue after becoming 'very upset at the level of homelessness in Oxford'.

The aim of her campaign is to raise £31 for 31 meals for 31 people in the 31 days of January.

The 49-year-old added: "I heard about the funding cuts and the impact they're going to have and I was very alarmed.

"It has been something close to my heart.

"Many years ago I did have my own experience of homelessness.

"I went swimming with friends of mine and I really wanted to do something with the impact of the cold weather, so it [the idea] came from there."

Ms Edwards said she has had some funny looks from onlookers wondering why she has been taking a dip in the icy waters.

She added: "A few people have said 'you're not going to get in the river? No you're not' and I'm like 'yeah, I am'."

Ms Edwards has so far braved the waters of Port Meadow, the River Thames at Iffley and Sandford Lock along with the sea at Golden Cap in Dorset.

The arts psychotherapist said she had been swimming in outdoor waters for about three years.

She added: "Oxfordshire is a fantastic place to swim.

"It's such a good way to be in contact with the countryside and how beautiful the world is."

She said the reaction to her swimming had been 'amazing'.

She added: "I really did not expect it. I have been really amazed and I'm really grateful."

The Oxford Mail launched its campaign with OxHop in December and has raised more than £1,700 to help the homeless so far.

It comes after Oxfordshire County Council announced more than 200 beds for the homeless would go when Simon House Hostel in Paradise Street and OxHop accommodation Julian Housing in Collins Street are ‘decommissioned’ by April 2018 because of £1.5m cuts over the next three years.

For OxHop, the cuts mean 83 beds it provides through Julian Housing accommodation in Oxford are at risk of closure in 2017.

Just £1 can put a meal on the table for a person without shelter.

To donate to Mrs Edwards' cause, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/helen-edwards31-dipadayjanuary2017