Hardy souls have taken to the water in the Serpentine, central London, for their annual Christmas Day swim.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)

Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club take part in the Peter Pan Cup race every year.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)

The water temperature can fall very low in the winter months, and wetsuits are not permitted, according to organisers – but entrants did not have to contend with a frozen lake this year.

Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)
Christmas Serpentine swim 2018
(Jonathan Brady/PA)

Meanwhile in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, swimmers leapt into Blackroot Pool for a festive swim.

This Christmas Day dip, also an annual tradition, is a less formal affair – with swimmers encouraged to don fancy dress outfits as well as their Speedos…

Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
(Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
(Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
(Aaron Chown/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Sutton COldfield
(Aaron Chown/PA)

In Bournemouth, swimmers took part in the White Christmas Dip at Boscombe Pier.

Swimmers in colourful costumes raised money for Macmillan Caring Locally.

Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
(Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
(Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
(Andrew Matthews/PA)
Christmas Day swim – Bournemouth
(Andrew Matthews/PA)