Thousands watch town traditions on seafront
Don’t miss our picture specials on the town’s festive traditions – including the sea dip, raft race and tug of war.
Thousands of people chose to welcome the New Year by taking part in or watching Scarborough’s traditional events.
Over 130 dippers, many of whom were in fancy dress, braved the freezing North Sea waters to raise money for their chosen charity.
A crowd of around 3,000 people also gathered in the town’s South Bay to cheer as swimmers from all over the North East ran into the sea.
Roy Chambers, Treasurer of Scarborough Lions Club which organises the event every year, said: “It was superb. The weather was really good, there was not a single cloud and it was quite warm.
“The only negative was high tide but we overcame that by having people run along the beach and coming back.
“People were stood along Foreshore Road all the way to Coney Island. Some were stood on the slipway and on the pier. It was crazy. Everybody was good humoured and the important thing is that every penny that we raised will be used for charitable purposes.”
In Ayton, villagers celebrated the start of the new year with the annual Tug of War over the River Derwent.
Organiser Paul Coole said: “It was really good, we had a good turnout with around 350 to 400 people.
“The rope which we’ve been using for 30 years snapped on the first pull so we had to tie it back together. West Ayton won the first pull, then they swapped sides, East Ayton won the second one and then the final one, it was again West Ayton so overall West Ayton were the winners.”
Organisers are now on the look-out for a new rope.