A Boxing Day swimming event that brings in thousands of spectators has been cancelled because of poor water quality.

Scores of swimmers have taken part in the annual Boxing Day Dip in Deal since it started in 1981, but organisers say it will not be going ahead this year.

It comes after the water quality off the town’s coast was downgraded to “poor” following investigations by the Environment Agency.

The site was rated “sufficient” last year - but increasing levels of bacteria such as E. coli have resulted in the new ranking which will now remain in place for 12 months.

It has led to people being warned against swimming in the sea, and has forced organisers to pull the event, which raises thousands for various charities.

“Due to the recent bathing water quality guideline, the Boxing Day Dip is cancelled this year,” they said in a statement.

“It is unfortunate this guideline was released at a time when the planning and arrangements for the dip were necessarily very advanced, but the health and safety of the dippers and volunteers is paramount.

“The committee is investigating if a different type of event on Boxing Day at the same location can be organised at such short notice - please monitor social media for details in due course.”

The announcement came from the Deal Icebreakers, the umbrella name for the co-organisers the Rotary Club of Deal and the volunteers’ group The Deal Pirates.

The event usually attracts 500 to 550 participants, about 2,000 spectators and raises £6,000 to £7,000.

It is a highly colourful day in the town calendar with many participants braving the freezing water in fancy dress.

It is only known to have been cancelled twice before, once in the 1980s because of stormy weather and again during the Covid pandemic era of 2020/21.

Residents had been dreading cancellation this year since Dover District Council put up a no-swim warning notice on the beach last Tuesday.

Dave Carter said last week how the Boxing Day Dip “has been integral to Deal for years”.

“To cancel it would be a devastating blow; it would affect a lot of pubs on Boxing Day,” he said.

The “poor” status is expected to stay until next November, which will also affect the peak bathing season of next May to September.

The decline in standards happened despite Southern Water announcing in 2017 that Deal would see a £3.9m investment to improve water quality in the area.

The water company last week said it believed “holiday homes with poor plumbing” could have contributed to the fall in quality.

Dover District and Deal Town Councils have, with Deal and Walmer Chamber of Trade, been approached by KentOnline to comment on the latest news.