Brave Brits strip off and plunge into icy water for Christmas Day dip at UK beaches
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Brave swimmers have taken chilly Christmas morning dips at beaches, lake and ponds around the country. In the capital, the 161st annual Christmas morning swim for the Peter Pan Cup, took place at the Serpentine in Hyde Park, with dozens jumping in the water earlier this morning. Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the race, which is held every Christmas Day.
Swimmers on the Dorset coast were also seen braving the cold temperatures. Wearing festive hats and swimsuits, the morning dippers were joined by a paddle boarder too. Spectators watched in the comfort of warmer clothes by the beach huts. Dozens of hardy souls braved the freezing water at Portobello beach on Christmas morning to take a dip in the Firth of Forth. Ladies from the Tidal Titties sea swimming clubfoot into the swing of things by donning cowboy hats and Santa-coloured swimsuits, while for others Santa hats were the way to go.
In Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, in a tradition more than 50 years old, brave bathers bared the flesh for an icy dip in Blackroot Pool. Temperatures of 10 degrees didn't deter daring souls. Many were sporting colourful swim wear and one man was even pictured in a mankini.
Swimmers in Bournemouth were also taking part in the Macmillan Boscombe White Christmas Dip, in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally. A thousand Christmas Day revellers wearing festive fancy dress took the plunge in to the sea at Boscombe Pier on an unseasonably warm morning.
