Two Boxing Day dips cancelled because of forecast

Two Boxing Day dips have been cancelled because of predicted strong winds and high tides.

Hundreds had been planning to brave temperatures of between 6C (42F) and 8C (46F) to swim in the sea at Cromer and Mundesley in Norfolk.

But both events - run by volunteers to raise money for charity - have been called off.

Two other festive swims in the county, at Sea Palling on Boxing Day and Hunstanton on Christmas Day, were still taking place, organisers said.

The swim at Cromer has been held for more than 30 years and was raising funds for the North Norfolk Surf Lifesaving Club.

Running club the North Norfolk Beach Runners (NNBR) had confirmed it would be the last time it would organise the event.

Richard West, from NNBR, said it would help any organisation that wanted to take it over.

He said: "There are several interested parties hoping to take it on.

"I am confident that the event will continue in the future".

A few miles along the coast at Mundesley, organisers of the dip there said the decision to cancel it was out of their control.

In a Facebook post, the Mundesley Independent Lifeboat said: "The forecast for Boxing Day is a combination of high tide, strong easterly winds, and challenging sea conditions, with the beach also seeing a build-up of large rocks.

"The safety of everyone involved in the event, both those running and attending it, is of paramount importance to us."

Charitable trust Let's Do It Anyway, which promotes social welfare and inclusion, organised the Sea Palling event. About 300 swimmers were expected to take part.

Tonya Knights, from the charity, said: "Sea Palling is more sheltered than other parts of the coast.

"For now, the dip is going ahead but we will make an informed decision on the day when we have visuals on the weather.

"We will also be taking advice from the Humber Coastguard."

Ms Knights said she hoped to make a decision about 10:30 GMT on Boxing Day and would keep social media channels updated.

Meanwhile, Hunstanton's Christmas Day swim at 11:00 GMT was still set to go ahead, a spokesman for Hunstanton and District Round Table 615 confirmed.

It raises funds for seven charities, including the Tapping House hospice.

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