Hundreds of bonkers bathers have rung in the new year by braving a very chilly plunge into freezing British waters.
Brave souls took to the banks of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry for the annual ‘Loony Dook’ New Year’s Day Swim.
Clad in fancy dress – or barely anything at all – intrepid bathers endured bitterly-cold temperatures as they took the plunge to raise money Limekilns Heritage Trust and their efforts to save the village’s pier, which is in danger of collapsing into the sea.
Last year’s dip raised £1,600 for the fund, and organiser Alex Hill told the Dumfermline Press: ‘In the first year there were just four of us and 12 people came to watch.
‘It’s become more popular and, when people are watching, they think, ‘It’s not that bad, so why not?’
Other chilly dips have been taken place across Britain, too.
A total of 384 bathers signed up to take part in a charity swim in the Solent at Stokes Bay, Gosport, Hampshire, which raises about £4,000 each year for the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service.
And the annual Panama Swimming Club New Year’s Day dip also made a splash today in Whitley Bay, Tyneside.
Hundreds of brave souls take a dip in the Firth of Forth at the town of South Queensferry for the annual ‘Loony Dook’ New Years Day swim
More than a hundred chilly dippers arrived wearing everything from highlander outfits to barely anything at all
Two people came as Still Game favourites Jack and Victor. Hundreds of brave souls take a dip in the Firth of Forth
A woman looks visibly shocked as she braves the icy waters of the Firth of Forth while other brave dippers clad in fancy dress surround her
A man clenches his fists as he braves the icy cold waters of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry for the Loony Dook New Year’s Day Swim
Left: A young woman dons a beanie while wearing a bikini. Right: Two patriotic dippers brave the icy cold waters of the Firth of Forth
A woman risked bringing her iPhone into the water with her to take a selfie fellow swimmers (and a dinosaur who is lurking in the background!)
A woman makes the most of the icy conditions as canoeists film the spectacle on their mobile phones
The aim of the event is to raise money to save the village’s pier, which is in danger of collapsing into the sea
A man wearing colourful attire appears to take a swig from a hip flask while a shirtless man (top left) struggles to get used to the cold
Three festively-dressed dippers brave the cold in front of the Forth Bridge
A woman (right) looks particularly shocked after feeling the temperature of the water
A swimmer takes part in the “loony dook” New Year’s Day dip in the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry
Dippers took the plunge to raise money Limekilns Heritage Trust and their efforts to save the village’s pier, which is in danger of collapsing into the sea
The annual Panama Swimming Club New Year’s Day Dip also took place today in Whitely Bay, Tyneside
The expressions say it all… Three dippers brave the cold in Whitley Bay today where
A man dressed as Elvis clings to a woman wearing a pink wig while he is flanked by another brave dipper dressed as Wonderwoman
Putting on a brave face… Two participants at the Whitley Bay dip wave to the camera after rushing into the icy cold water
Swimmers run into in the sea at the Barry Island New Year Day Swim at Whitmore Bay, in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
A dog joins the dip alongside its owner who ran into the sea at Barry Island in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
A group of friends in fancy dress – two dressed Daleks from Dr Who – dip in the sea at the Barry Island New Year Day Swim at Whitmore Bay, in the Vale of Glamorgan,
A slightly wonky-eyed Spiderman joins other chilly dippers at Barry Island in South Wales today
Two women make their way out of the freezing seas after braving the icy-cold water today AT Whitmore Bay in South Wales
A man falls on his bottom at after braving the freezing cold waters in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales
Brave swimmers take to the chilly waters of The Solent in aid of an independent lifeboat station