In Pictures: Plucky bathers take a Christmas dip

Despite the mild weather, the swimming waters around the UK offered a bracing start to the day.

Hardy swimmers, including many in fancy dress, started Christmas Day around the UK and Ireland with an outdoor swim.

Although Wednesday was forecast to be “dry and cloudy” with no snow or frost likely, temperatures from locations including the Dorset and Norfolk coasts, the Serpentine pond in London and a Dublin yacht club meant it was a bracing dip for those who took to the water.

A man and woman in Santa hats walk into the waves — Swimmers take part in an early Christmas Day dip on Boscombe beach in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA)

People in swimsuits and fancy dress standing on a pontoon — Some members of the Serpentine Swimming Club were in fancy dress for the Peter Pan Cup race, which is held every Christmas Day in Hyde Park, central London (Yui Mok/PA)

Four swimmers in Santa hats climbing down concrete steps into the sea with industrial chimneys behind them — People take part in the Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club annual charity Christmas swim in Dublin in aid of the RNLI (Brian Lawless/PA)

Swimmers in the sea dressed in shower caps and riding inflatable ducks — People take part in a Christmas Day dip at Hunstanton in Norfolk (Joe Giddens/PA)

Out of the water, running, cycling and other modes of exercise were popular before people settled down for Christmas dinner.

Runners on the start line at the Christmas Day Parkrun on the Stormont Estate in Belfast as the event broke its attendance record with 788 finishers (David Young/PA)

A woman rollerblades through central London (Yui Mok/PA)

The King and Queen attend the Christmas Day service in Sandringham with the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, the Prince of Wales and Prince George walking behind them (Aaron Chown/PA)

Two Pomeranian dogs dressed in blue and red coats, sitting in a pram — Pomeranians Peanut and Coco were waiting to see the royal family at Sandringham (Aaron Chown/PA)