Keen swimmers brave the freezing cold and hit the water for a midwinter Christmas dip

KEEN swimmers braved the freezing cold and hit the water for a midwinter Christmas dip today.

Brave Brits decided to strip off their gear and plunged into the icy waters in festive celebration at Coney Beach, Wales.

Every year thousands head to their nearest beach to take part in the bizarre Christmas tradition.

And the annual Christmas day swim in Porthcawl saw many happily turn up in festive swim costumes.

This year some had been swimming in the freezing water to raise money for RNLI.

Caroline and Steph Adams from Bridgend wore skimpy Santa-themed swimsuits while taking the icy plunge.

One beachgoer donned a pair of reindeer antlers as he swum bare-chested in his swimming trunks.

Another was dressed in a elf-outfit while more than one woman braved the cold with only a bikini and Santa hat.

Others were seen dipping into the water wearing nothing more than a thin pair of Speedos.

And a group of lads were snapped in elf outfits out on a fairly busy Coney Beach.

Despite temperatures over the next few days set to plummet below freezing, it didn’t stop the festivities.

The tradition will continue on Boxing Day with swims are also scheduled across the country from Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone to Whitby’s beachfront.

Meanwhile, on New Year’s Day next week, brave Brits in Lyme Regis, Edinburgh, and everywhere in between will also be taking the plunge.