Deal’s annual Boxing Day Dip will go ahead after all... but on dry land.

The popular splash into the sea had to be cancelled after a do-not-swim warning was issued when the water was found to be of poor quality by the Environment Agency.

Now, organisers are putting on a ‘Not the Boxing Day Dip’ event, which will still be held on Thursday, December 26.

It is set to include a cold water challenge, with volunteers having a bucket of water - not from the sea - poured over them for good causes.

Organisers say this will cover people who had already been sponsored to get wet in the dip.

John Utting, secretary of co-organisers the Rotary Club of Deal, said: “Following the disappointment of having to cancel this year’s Boxing Day Dip due to the poor seawater quality, Deal Icebreakers are pleased to announce our alternative event “Not The Boxing Day Dip” has been given permission to go ahead by Dover District Council.

“This will take place by the pier between 11am and 2pm with a number of fun attractions including a cold water challenge (not involving seawater) which might aid those who have already raised sponsorship to qualify to collect it.

“It is an attempt to make the best of a situation that is outside of our control and we hope everyone will support it as they did the Dip which has raised so much money for worthy good causes in the town.”

Participants are invited to turn up in fancy dress and activities will also include a treasure hunt and exercise class.

The annual dip can raise £6,000 for charity and attract 2,000 spectators and the hope is to recoup at least some of those numbers.

The alternate event, and the annual dip, are organised by Deal Icebreakers, an umbrella group for the Rotarians and the voluntary organisation Deal Pirates.

The organisers announced on December 2 that the dip was cancelled this year after Environment Agency tests found the sea’s bathing water to be of poor quality.

The site was rated sufficient last year but increasing levels of bacteria such as E.coli resulted in the new ranking, which will stay in place for a year.

The Boxing Day Dip began in Deal in 1981 and is only known to have been cancelled twice before.

This was in the 1980s because of stormy weather and during the Covid pandemic period of 2020/21.