It’s a blue Christmas for this lot! Swimmers courageous chilly waters to take Christmas Day dips throughout the nation
Intrepid swimmers across the nation have braved the chilly waters as they celebrate Christmas Day with a festive plunge.
Many swimmers turned out in support of various charity causes, with others simply enjoying a festive tradition.
In Bournemouth, people rose early for a dip off Boscombe Pier, as hundreds turned out in an eclectic display of fancy dress in aid of MacMillan Caring Locally.
From Santa, to Rudolph and even Elvis Presley, swimmers brought an abundance of merry cheer to the south coast.
The enduring Peter Pan Cup was also strongly attended in London‘s Hyde Park, with swimmers taking part in the world’s oldest annual swimming event.
Running since 1864 in the park’s Serpentine Lake, it was the event’s 161st iteration with participants enjoying mulled wine and festive treats in its aftermath.
Although the waters may be cold this time of year, the nation is experiencing an unusually mild Christmas.
So, for those who missed out on squeezing a dip into today’s Christmas plans, there will be another opportunity tomorrow with the Met Office describing Boxing Day conditions as ‘another mild day’.
Swimmers donning fancy dress braved the cold water off Bournemouth’s Boscombe Pier in aid of MacMillan Caring Locally, with a chef, christmas turkey and oven all pictured above
With a wide variety of costumes on display, even Santa Claus was spotted making an appearance
Swimmers donning reindeer, christmas tree, christmas cracker and elf costumes were seen in the chilly waters
Despite the cold water, the festive cheer and spirit of the swim’s participants remained intact, as highlighted by the smiles of this Reindeer-themed swimmer
It was not just human participants braving the water, but four-legged ones too, with a German sheperd pictured with his owner
An Elvis Presley impersonator appeared along Boscombe beach with swimmers paying homage to the minions franchise
Elvis and his minions were pictured still smiling as they left the English Channel’s waters
Swimmers pose for a selfie in their Santa hats to prove they really did brave the chilly water
Some of the more obscure fancy dress on display included an inflatable shark and a lobster
Some participants were shocked by just how cold the English Channel was this morning, with the three women above palpably frozen
Swimmers pose along Boscombe Beach in their drenched festive pyjamas
Other festive swimmers turned out in Hyde Park to take part in the annual Peter Pan Cup at Serpentine Lake
Attendees enjoyed mulled wine and some festive baked goods in the event’s aftermath
The warmth of the mulled wine brought joy to the faces of swimmers as they exited the chilly water
Participants line up in festive attire as they prepare to dive into Serpentine Lake
The water temperature proved to be a shock for some of the Hyde Park swimmers
With mild conditions outside of the water, swimmers were glad to have completed the race and receive their cup of mulled wine too
One swimmer dressed in festive attire watches on as others race by in the hopes of claiming the Peter Pan Cup
Donning a Santa’s hat over his swimming cap, this swimmer was pleased to receive his post-race mulled wine
Five dancers from MH productions braved the wintery waters of Blackpool beach
Dancers Erin Waters and Suzie-Lou Bhagat-Lowe of MH Productions pictured on Blackpool Beach with Santa hats and tinsel
