HUNDREDS of hardy souls braved the icy North Sea to take part in traditional Boxing Day dips.

A record number of entrants and spectators turned out for the annual dip at Redcar beach.

An estimated 5,000 people lined the beach to cheer on more than 300 people who sprinted into the water.

Many of the dippers wore fancy dress for the event, organised by Middlesbrough Teesside Lions Club.

Among the shivering participants was 22-year-old Rachel Seaton, from Redcar.

She was taking part in her first dip to raise money for research into the condition ectodermal dysplasia.

Sufferers are born without sweat glands and rarely grow hair or teeth.

Rachel said: "It was not as cold as I thought it would be, but it was still pretty bad."

Giles Bolitho, of the Lions, said this year's event was the most successful in his 25 years as organiser.

He said: "I have never seen anything like it. I would say the number taking part was around the 300 mark, which is the biggest ever."

One of the teams who took the plunge was the Wellington Hotel Football Club, from Eston, Middlesbrough, who raised money for the children's hospice Zoe's Place.

Club captain Paul French said: "It was a good laugh, and I will definitely be back next year."

Louise Allanson, from Loftus, east Cleveland, celebrated her 30th birthday by joining in the big splash. She marked the occasion by raising money for the RNLI.

Meanwhile, Sunderland Mayor Tom Foster joined 855 others to take part in the annual Boxing Day Dip at Seaburn.

Sunderland Lions raised £66,000 for good causes -£8,000 more than last year.

Peter Fielding, from the Lions, said: "We are very pleased with how it went.

"A lot of people said it was a great way to cure a hangover and will be back again next year. It has been a fantastic and brilliant morning and we are really pleased with how it has gone.

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