HUNDREDS of hardy characters braved icy conditions to take a dip in the North Sea, off the North-East coast, yesterday.

In what has become an annual Boxing Day ritual at several locations up and down the coast, sponsored dips were staged to boost the coffers of many regional charities.

The biggest event was at Seaburn, in Sunderland, where the city's Lions Club has staged a Boxing Day dip since 1976.

A fall of snow just prior to the 11am start provided a seasonal backdrop as the dippers paraded to the shoreline from the Seaburn Centre, led by Sunderland's Mayor, Councillor Brian Dodds, and the Hetton Silver Band.

The first team to enter the water, wearing battle fatigues, were from the nearby Army Cadet detachment in Dykelands Road.

Firefighters hosed dippers on the beach to ease the shock prior to the entry into the water.

There was the usual array of fancy dress costumes on parade, including teams wearing penguin, shepherd and dalamatian costumes, plus a couple of Bob the Builders, but the individual prize went to a realistic-looking Robin Hood.

Paul Jones, of the Lions Club, said the provisional number of dippers was 692, just 60 below last year's figure - but the estimated total they will raise for charity is £35,000, up by more than £5,000 on Boxing Day 1999.

"We started this event in 1976 with just 40 dippers and just look at it now. It's absolutely huge.

"Everything went swimmingly well. Despite the earlier snow, it was fine when people went in the water, but it looked very cold," said Mr Jones, relieved to be spared the ordeal of entering the water himself due to his organisational duties.

Other smaller dips took place at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, South Shields, in South Tyneside, and at Seaham, County Durham