More than 200 swimmers lined up on Saturday, 26 December 2009, for the annual Boxing Day fundraising dip at Cromer. Photos by Martin Barber.
The dippers raised money for EACH, the East Anglia's Children's Hospices, by running into the North Sea. Some got into the festive mood, while others braved the 6C air temperature in just swim wear.
The annual event is a good excuse to get out of the house and enjoy a breath of fresh air over the festive period, it's also rumoured to make a bracing hangover cure!
As the traditional start time of 11am got close some of the dippers could hardly wait and almost jumped the gun. Many of the participants come back year after year.
As 11am struck, the 200 plus dippers made a dash towards the North Sea showing no signs of fear at the cold water to come. The tradition at Cromer is for each dipper to go in twice.
The fundraising dip at Cromer is organised by the North Norfolk Beach Runners. The event normally raises around £2,000 for good causes.
After a busy night delivering presents on Christmas Eve, Santa decided a refreshing dip off the Norfolk coast was the ideal wake-up call before heading back to the North Pole.
Once swimmers were in the water, apparently it 'wasn't too bad'. In years gone by a local bath house used to give each dipper a nip of brandy following their swim to warm them up.
The Cromer Boxing Day Dip is just one of a number of traditional dips that take place in Norfolk each year. Others are held in Hunstanton, Gorleston and Mundesley.
The annual Cromer dip attracts hundreds of spectators to watch the hardy swimmers do their bit for charity.
Screams of delight could be heard to fill the sea air as the annual North Sea dip was over for another year and the comfort of a hot towel and warming drink was in store.
The Christmas Day dip at Hunstanton draws both man and beast to the Norfolk coast. Dipping in the town goes back to 1957 when just eight daring souls entered the water.
Swimming technology has evolved dramatically over the last 30 years, though wedding dresses are not traditional for a dip in the North sea. A variety of costumes at Hunstanton impressed the crowds.
With the turkey left cooking in ovens across Norfolk, Hunstanton's Christmas Day Dip got under way with plenty of enthusiasm and vigour.
Eight hardy swimmers including former BBC Radio Norfolk presenter Tony Mallion braved the North Sea at Gorleston near the breakwater on Christmas Day.
The swim, which started at noon on Christmas Day, raised money for the Palliative Care Centre Appeal at the James Paget Hospital in Gorleston.
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