MORE than 100 swimmers braved the icy waters off the Kent coast for this year's Boxing Day Dip.

A blue sky and a calm sea provided perfect conditions for the annual charity fund-raiser at Deal, with scores of people donning Father Christmas hats, jester caps and fancy dress to make the colourful crash into the waves a fun-filled event.

The crowd of supporters was estimated to top the 500 mark, with people packed onto the prom and pier forecourt to watch the spectacle, which is now a firm favourite for Boxing Day revellers and watchers.

Deal Mayor Cllr Jim Cronk was in charge of the countdown for the start and watched his wife Una exchange her chain of office for a tinsel necklace for her dash into the sea.

She said: "I think the Christmas spirit was still flying around inside lots of people! There was a great atmosphere for the dip and a brilliant turnout on the seafront."

Stephanie Eldridge and chums, one clutching a blow-up Christmas tree, dashed into the sea for their first Boxing Day dash and had £1,500 already pledged for MacMillan cancer charity.

Back for a second time were Deal Victoria and Barns Close cricketers, all in whites and hats to raise cash for the ATC and Scouts.

Members of Deal Carnival court continued the tradition of an annual entry from the regatta association, wearing handmade Victorian-styled blue and white swimming outfits, complete with mop hats.

Mark Ostheimer threw off his blow-up santa outfit before his dip and came from Sevonoaks especially for the event with cousin Adam Coventry, from Bexleyheath. They had both heard about the event from relatives who moved to Deal after visiting the town regularly for 30 years.

Mr Ostheimer said: "It has been an ambition of mine for a long time to take part."

One of the first swimmers in the water was scantily clad Marek Brady, who was ‘dressed’ as the fictional character Borat.

As Cllr Cronk said: "I hope snaps of a lifetime were taken to embarrass someone later on!"

Fifty-five sponsor forms were issued to swimmers to raise cash for Deal Air Training Corp and Deal Scouts, and organisers hoped to top last year's fundraising total of £3,000.