Dorset Tea is encouraging people to get outside and enjoy all that the county’s stunning coastline and countryside has to offer.

The popular brand’s latest advertising campaign is using real-life Dorset residents, who embrace the colder months and the great outdoors.

They include cycling enthusiast Greg Weekes from Southbourne.

The 40-year-old said: “Getting out for a ride on a blue skied crisp winter’s day is such a good release from otherwise short and dark days in the office.

“Being out in the country, seeing the sunshine melting the frosty grass and the colours of a sunny winter’s day is unbeatable.

“I tend to cycle with like-minded friends and other dads.

“With young kids and a busy family life I have to take the opportunity to get out for a ride when I can, and I often enjoy the peace of cycling by myself.”

Greg’s favourite place to cycle in Dorset is the Isle of Purbeck.

He said: “It is a stunning part of the world and on our doorstep.

“We are so lucky!”

Grandmother of four, Val Hall, pictured, also features in the Dorset Tea campaign.

She lives in Portesham, West Dorset, and is a year-round sea swimmer.

Her favourite places to swim are the groyne at Weymouth Bay and Chesil Cove and she belongs to the Bluetits Chill Swimmers group.

Val said: “The best thing about sea swimming in the winter is that is gets me up and out in the morning, the natural high of the cold water sets me up for the day.

“A great way of socialising and making new friends.

“Post swim, I love warming my hands on a steaming hot mug of tea with cake and friends.”

Lauren Forecast, pictured left, Brand Manager for Dorset Tea, said: “Dorset is at the heart of our brand, so it felt important to put local people at the centre of our campaign.

“These are real people showing their own true-life moments, when there is nothing better than getting outside, followed by a cup of warming tea.”

Dorset Tea’s roots go back to 1934 when its founder Keith Spicer blended and packed tea from his mother’s kitchen in Bournemouth.

The tea tasted so good that by 1940 a site was acquired to produce Keith Spicer’s tea on a bigger scale.

In 2009, as part of the brand’s 75th anniversary celebrations, the ‘Dorset Tea’ brand was launched to epitomise the very first high-quality tea blend that Keith produced back in 1934.

The brand has gone from strength to strength since.

It now has 12 blends, including its Sunshine Blend, Ginger & Sunshine Lemon, Cool Camomile, Strawberries & Cream and new Loose Leaf.

• dorsettea.co.uk