Skip to content

Crowds brave the North Sea for Boxing Day dips

Jim Scott,in Seaburnand
Evie Lake,North East and Cumbria
News imageJim Scott/BBC Three women standing in the sea. The woman in the middle is dressed as a sunflower and smiling. The two on either side of her are dressed as plant pot with braces holding up the pots. They have bright face paint on and are holding their arms in the air. People can be seen behind them in the sea. The sun is rising and the sky is covered in clouds.Jim Scott/BBC
Hundreds took part in the Boxing Day dip at Seaburn, Sunderland

Crowds have flocked to beaches across the north-east of England to take part in Boxing Days dips.

At Seaburn, in Sunderland, hundreds ran into the nippy North Sea with many raising money for local charities.

The event, run by the Sunderland Lions Club and the Red Sky Foundation, has been a tradition at Seaburn since the 1970s and organiser Jackie Robson said it was an opportunity "for people to raise money for causes that are dear to their own heart".

Hundreds of swimmers also took the plunge in Berwick-upon-Tweed, in Northumberland, Tynemouth, in North Tyneside and Saltburn, in Redcar and Cleveland.

News imageJim Scott/BBC A group of six people, two are wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes. The man in the middle is shirtless. They are all smiling into the camera and people can be seen behind them in the sea.Jim Scott/BBC
Dippers in fancy dress at Seaburn
News imageJim Scott/BBC A group of five people dressed as vicars in black robes with white accessories. The woman in the middle is dressed as a nun. They are holding a banner which reads: 'Reverend Runners Club Boxing Day Sea Dip 2025'.Jim Scott/BBC
Money was being raised for various local causes in Seaburn
News imageHeadlight Project A crowd of people in the sea with a mostly clear blue sky. Numerous people are in Santa hats and bright colours.Headlight Project
More than 200 people braved the cold at Saltburn
News imageAlan Hughes Eight lifeboat volunteers dressed in red and yellow standing in a line and smiling in front of the sea. All of them are holding their thumbs up to the camera. A ship can be seen on the horizon behind them.Alan Hughes
Lifeboat volunteers were present at the dip in Berwick, Northumberland
News imageAlan Hughes A crowd of people on the sand with their arms out standing in front of a woman with long, brown hair who has her back to the camera. In the crowd there are people dressed as elves, people in Santa hats and bathing costumes.Alan Hughes
A large crowd braved the sea up in Berwick
News imagePA Media Four people lying on their stomachs in the shallow sea. The woman in the front is wearing an elf costume with a Santa hat and is holding one of her arms in the air. The people behind her are smiling and laughing. In the distance people are walking out of the sea.PA Media
A lot of fun was had in Tynemouth, North Tyneside
News imagePA Media Three women running into the sea dressed as fish with blue and purple scaled onesies on. They are laughing and there is a golden labrador in a lifejacket beside them. There is a crowd of people smiling and running behind them, including a blonde woman dressed as an elf on their left.PA Media
Running into the sea with smiling faces at Tynemouth
News imagePA Media Three women with long hair dressed as Christmas presents. The costumes are a boxy shape and red with a golden ribbon. They are wearing Santa hats and looking to the right of the camera. People are in the sea behind them and a ship is on the horizon.PA Media
Festive-themed dippers dressed as Christmas presents took to the water at Tynemouth

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

Related stories