A series of festive dips in the North Sea are being organised this year for a range of charities.

The swims will be held in villages and towns including at Mundesley, Cromer, Lowestoft, Overstrand and Hunstanton.

One of the biggest is in Lowestoft on Christmas Day, now in its 32nd year. Swimmers enter the water at 10.30am.

Organiser Lawrence Chapman said he was expecting a record number of swimmers and hoped that each participant would aim to raise £100 in sponsorship money.

“If the number of sponsor forms already issued is anything to go by this year's swim looks to be the most successful ever,” he said.

“But there is still plenty of room on the beach for many more.”

Around 150 people took part last year, raising more than £12,000 for charities across Waveney. It is estimated that the swim has raised a total of more than £315,000 over the years.

The Hunstanton swim, also on Christmas Day and organised by the Hunstanton Round Table since 1973, has been running since 1957. Swimmers should register at the Oasis Leisure Centre at 10.30am and the swim itself is at 11am.

The Mundelsey swim, in aid of the independent inshore lifeboat, is on Boxing Day at 10.30am next to the lifeboat boathouse. Proceeds will be split between the lifeboat and the Mundesley Scouts, with a prize for the best fancy dress outfit.

And also on Boxing Day, the North Norfolk Beach Runners will organise the Cromer dip, with bucket rattling in aid of the East Anglian Children's Hospices starting at 10.30am and the swim itself at 11am.

Another Boxing Day swim will be held in Overstrand at 11.30am, on the prom below the Cliff Top Café. A bucket collection will be held for the upkeep of the Millennium Group playground.

The New Year's Day swim in Great Yarmouth will not go ahead. The swim organised by the town's football club was called off last year because of flu and the winter vomiting bug. This year there were not enough people available to organise the event.

Source: edp24.co.uk