Hundreds of people brave the North Sea on Christmas Day for charity

Hundreds of people take to the sea for the annual Christmas Day swim in Felixstowe.

Brave fundraisers celebrated the festive season with a difference after having a chilly morning dip in the North Sea.

At Felixstowe beach in Suffolk it was a record-breaking year for the annual Christmas Day celebration which has been held for the past 20 years in aid of St Elizabeth Hospice.

More than 650 swimmers dressed up in a variety of costumes braved the water - the most amount of participants to take part since the fundraiser began, according to James Fox-Golding, Events and Challenges Manager at St Elizabeth Hospice.

The hospice provides free care to more than 4,000 patients and their families across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

So far this year's Christmas Day swim has raised more than £40,000, according to the charity.

Mr Fox-Golding said: "A massive well done and thank you to all our incredible dippers who take part in this year’s Christmas Day Dip.

"A special thanks also goes to our amazing supporters and volunteers, whose efforts made the eventpossible and created such a fantastic festive atmosphere. We are so thankful for the incredible community support we receive year after year."

One of the swimmers was Ross Dowsing, who was raising money for the charity in memory of his mother, Heather, who received support from the hospice in 2023 before her death.

He said: "What a fantastic morning with a brilliant atmosphere. The water was very cold but also refreshing – it certainly woke me up.

"I am so proud to support the hospice in any way I can. The whole charity is amazing, and they gave suchbrilliant, compassionate care to my mum and our whole family."

Other Christmas Day swims across the region include those at Hunstanton in North West Norfolk.

The event has been held for more than 60 years and is organised by the Hunstanton and District Round Table, which supports local community organisations.

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