Festive bathers in charity plunge

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Swimmers across north-east England have taken to the waves for a traditional Boxing Day plunge.

Hundreds of people of all ages, many in fancy dress, braved the cold of the North Sea to raise money for charity.

The events, which are also popular with spectators, include swims at Whitley Bay, Seaton Carew, Newbiggen and Blyth.

There was a record entry for the mass dip at Seaburn, near Sunderland, with about 1,300 people registering for the event, which is in its 35th year.

It is thought to be the largest of its kind in Europe.

The Redcar swim is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

At all the locations entrants had to walk across frosty beaches to get to the sea, which was described as "absolutely freezing".

The frost also led to the cancellation of the Boxing Day "Pudding Run" in Whitley Bay.

Organisers felt that the icy footpaths were too unsafe for the annual fun run to take place.