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In pictures: Helen's Bay Christmas Eve swim

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imageEight woman stand and smile at a camera. They are all wearing red Santa hats, that have white headbands. The woman on the far right wears a blow up peach-coloured Turkey costume.
News imageA large ocean wave hits a crowd of woman wearing swim suits and red Santa hats with white tips. There are many more people wearing swimsuits beyond the wave.
Santa costumes, elves and a turkey were among the outfits on display
The Christmas Eve dip is now in its 29th year

Hundreds of people have taken part in the annual Christmas Eve dip at Helen's Bay beach in County Down.

Around 500 swam while another 500 watched from the shoreline at the festive event run by the open water swim group, Helen's Baywatch.

Many of the swimmers wore Santa hats or red swimsuits for the annual Christmas swim, now in its 29th year.

Environment Minister Andrew Muir, mayor of Ards and North Down Gillian McCollum and former Irish rugby international Trevor Ringland were among the dippers.

Muir said the swim was "reinvigorating for body and mind" and a good way to start Christmas.

Asked about improving water-quality around the coast of Northern Ireland, including Helen's Bay, he insisted the issue was "top of my agenda".

Although most of the swimmers came from County Down or greater Belfast, some travelled from Enniskillen, Portadown and Ballymena for the dip.

While most only stayed in the water only briefly, some swam for 20 minutes.

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