Entertainment

In Pictures: Swimmers brave the elements for Christmas Day dip

The Peter Pan Cup race is held every Christmas Day.
The Peter Pan Cup race is held every Christmas Day. The Peter Pan Cup race is held every Christmas Day.

Hardy souls have taken to the water in the Serpentine, central London, for their annual Christmas Day swim.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the Peter Pan Cup race every year.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

The water temperature can fall very low in the winter months, and wetsuits are not permitted, according to organisers – but entrants did not have to contend with a frozen lake this year.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018 (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Meanwhile in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, swimmers leapt into Blackroot Pool for a festive swim.

This Christmas Day dip, also an annual tradition, is a less formal affair – with swimmers encouraged to don fancy dress outfits as well as their Speedos…

Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield (Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield (Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield (Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield (Aaron Chown/PA)

In Bournemouth, swimmers took part in the White Christmas Dip at Boscombe Pier.

Swimmers in colourful costumes raised money for Macmillan Caring Locally.

Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth (Andrew Matthews/PA)