There were nuns, pink ladies and Disney characters among the Boxing Day dippers at Deal beach this morning.

Together with bikini-clad and wet suit wearing swimmers, they charged across the shingle for an icy splash to work off the Christmas excesses.

This morning's mad-cap spectacle was in aid of Ellice Barr's Wish to Walk, the £65,000 fundraising campaign led by Amy and Joe Barr, of Magness Road, to help their five year old daughter walk unaided.

More than 100 brave swimmers registered before Christmas, and a spontaneous few joined in by registering before the off.

But a false start by one dipper, who lurched forward of the starting line, led to the whole herd making sprint minutes ahead of the 11am starting claxon.

They crashed into the waves - some for just a few seconds before running back. Others stretched out into a stiff breast stroke and some broke out into full swim.

Little Ellice, who wants life-changing selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and rehabilitation to treat her cerebral palsy, took part in a dip of her own.

For the full amount raised, and four pages of pictures, see Thursday's Mercury.