HARDY souls are planning to brave the icy shores of the North Sea on Friday for Europe's biggest Boxing Day Dip.

More than 800 dippers who took part in last year's event, at Seaburn in Sunderland, helped raised £38,000 for local charities.

There is an upper limit of 1,000 on entries, but when Boxing Day morning arrives some applicants do not show up, preferring to turn over and sleep off the Christmas excesses.

With temperatures expected to rise after the frozen start to Christmas week, organisers from Sunderland Lions Club are hoping most of this year's applicants will go through with their pledge.

Participants must enter the water up to waste height to be deemed to have dipped.

Crowds of between 3,000 and 4,000 are expected to line the seafront to show their support for the dippers.

All those planning to make a splash are encouraged to wear fancy dress. Prizes are awarded for the best swimwear and for the teams raising the most money to aid local good causes.

Sunderland's Mayor, Councillor Juliana Heron, will lead the parade of dippers from the Seaburn Centre to the beach, at 11am. She will also judge the fancy dress competition.

Late entries can be lodged with Lion stalwart Stuart Kohn on 0191-584 4556.