Brave swimmers hit the beach for a Boxing Day swim – dressed in Santa hats & reindeer antlers
BRAVE Boxing Day dippers were spotted heading out to sea dressed for the festivities this morning.
The usual festive dress of tinsel, Santa hats and reindeer antlers, were seen alongside the cheery faces as swimmers battled the fresh conditions.
As many headed out for a refreshing swim at Ayr Beach in Scotland, smiles could be seen bobbing in the water as people turned towards the shore.
Others managed to keep hold of their Santa hats as they jumped against oncoming waves.
One man was truly prepared for cooking up leftovers the day after Christmas with a red apron tied around his bare chested torso.
Some seemed to forget their themed accessories, instead opting to wear their festive spirit with a smile.
Almost all began wading out with bare legs opting for swimsuits, bikinis or trunks.
A group of women were spotted holding hands as they braved the cold water side-by-side, egging each other on with moral support.
While a number of attendees seemed to take the winter weather in their stride, others were more hesitant to strip off and instead wore wetsuits alongside their Santa hats.
One man rustled up an elf costume with ears, hat and gloves included.
The annual charity event is held to raise money for Ayrshire Cancer Support, which provides free services to people in Ayrshire affected by cancer.
People gather on Ayr Beach each year at around 11am to dive in and boost donations for the great cause.
This comes after This Morning star Ben Shephard showed off his ripped six pack as he braved the cold for a Christmas Day dip yesterday.
The TV presenter, 50, was seen wearing a pair of navy blue swimming shorts as he joined hundreds of other divers in Port Isaac, Cornwall.
Despite temperatures of just 11 degrees, the star was seen jumping in for an icy swim.
The Tipping Point star put his toned physique of display as he went topless.
Ben was seen waist deep in the water as he gave a big thumbs up.
After completing the annual challenge, Ben was seen grimacing back on dry land as he reached for a towel to dry off.
The star was also seen having a drink in a small shot glass, before he returned home to celebrate the day with his family.
Meanwhile the Boxing Day weather forecast revealed a misty start for Brits in the south of England and Wales.
Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect to see patches of heavy rain, particularly in Glasgow, Edinburgh.
The north of England may see some sunny spells by the afternoon.
Much of Britain will experience seasonal average temperatures, with higher figures further north.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are forecast to hover at around 10C throughout the day.
The afternoon should also bring highs of 10C to south west coast of England in areas such as Plymouth.
Elsewhere, much of England and Wales will remain at around 8C or 9C throughout the day, while the Midlands are predicted lows of 6C.
However figures are set to plummet next week as revellers look forward to New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Temperatures are expected to reach lows of -2C in northern Scotland, with much of the country set to remain just above freezing for festivities.
Met Office meteorologists forecast the north of England and Midlands staying at around 4C.
And the agency’s latest weather map has revealed the exact date snow is set to fall across the UK in just days.