BOXING DAY DIPPERS MAKE A BIG SPLASH

WEARSIDERS MAKE A SPLASH IN ANNUAL BOXING DAY DIP

Thousands cheered on Boxing Day dippers as they made their dash into the sea.

Sunderland Lions Club hosted the event at Sea burn for the 44th year, with the parade leaving the Grand Hotel and making its way through the crowd sand down to the water.

Many rose to the challenge of wearing fancy dress for the event including bananas, flamingos, Lego figures and plenty of festive outfits.

Among them were Donna Grieves, 42, from Roker, Danielle Williams, 37, from Castletown, Laura Wicker, 28, Linda Middleton, 55, both from Hen- don, and Taylor Davies, 27, from Silksworth, with the friends raising funds for Dementia UK as they dressed up as princess es on flying carpets.

Donna said: “We love it, you get a real adrenaline rush, but the thing that makes it is all the crowds of people that come down and it’ s such a good atmosphere, it’s just brilliant and lovely.

“It was cold, but it’s that adrenaline, it goes through you and we like to stay in until last .”

A total of 178 people registered to take part in this year’s dip, with numbers reduced since the Seaburn Centre was closed down and the move made to the Grand Hotel, where people have been able to dress up ready for their dip.

Anne Fielding, of Sunderland Lions Club, said :“All these people here have been raising money for charity.

“It’ s lovely to see, as the hard work starts back in August and it’s a great tradition and it’s great that people come out to watch.

“We see the same people come back and do it again and again and there’ s always a lovely atmosphere.

“The fancy dresses are wonderful and they always look amazing.”

The club added its thanks to the Grand Hotel, HM Coastguard, Sunderland Volunteer Life Brigade, and Sunderland’s RNLI crew, which all offered support at the event.

The air temperature at the time of the dip was 9° and the water temperature was 7°.