HUNDREDS of hardy people braved the icy North Sea yesterday for a series of Boxing Day dips - including Europe's largest.

More than 700 people took the plunge at Seaburn, in Sunderland, helping to raise a record £41,000 for charity, while 200 splashed out at Redcar, east Cleveland, and more than 300 turned up at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool.

Stuart Kohn, of Sunderland Lions Club, said last night: "It went extremely well. We had fewer people in the water than last year, but it was not disappointing because the quality of sponsorship was much better.

"The weather was good - though it was still only five or six degrees centigrade - and the sea was calm and we had no casualties."

The event, which began with a parade, saw dippers arrive in all manner of fancy dress. They had to immerse in the sea at least to the waist to count.

Entrants included 40 pupils from Pennywell Comprehensive School, who took part as part of their curriculum's civic awareness course, and Phil Pendleton, who travels from Nottingham every year.

The money raised will go to charities across the region and will be presented in March.

Middlesbrough-Teesside Lions Club reported a record number of entrants at Redcar.

Spokesman Chris Taylor said: "It went extremely well. Last year, we had 150 dippers, this year 200. We had a very good turnout of the public.

"Last year, we raised £9,000 through sponsorship and more than £800 during a beach collection. We should exceed those amounts this year."

A few miles up the coast, at Seaton Carew, 307 took the plunge after a piper led them down to the water's edge.

Organiser Norman Hope, of Hartlepool Lions, said: "It was very mild this year with a sea temperature of six degrees. We are hopefully looking at raising £20,000."

Previous dips at Seaton Carew have raised a total of £176,000.