BOXING Day “dippers” braved the waters of the Albert Dock to raise money for charity.

Yesterday saw the 23rd City of Liverpool Open Water Swimming Club Boxing Day Dip with more than 100 hardy souls stripping down and taking the plunge.

As the winter sun shone down, making the water a “practically tropical” eight degrees the swimmers took one of three ways into the historic Salthouse Dock just before noon.

Tourists and families gathered in crowds to watch as the daredevils took the high plunge from the wall around the edge of the dock while others decided on a more sedate entrance to the water, going in off the slip or diving from the pontoon.

Most swam around 25 metres out and then turned and headed for home where family and friends stood with warming towels and flasks full of hot drinks.

But others swam the full 300 metres of the dock as they used the fun event as part of their training for bigger challenges, including swimming the English Channel.

Once everyone had dried off, the participants headed for a hot cup of soup and the certificate presentation in the nearby Liverpool Arms pub.

Brian Henners, secretary of the club, said: “The water temperature was practically tropical for this time of year and the air temperature was around 12 degrees.

“Even with the wind making it feel colder, it was still an improvement on last year when it was at freezing point when the swimmers went in.

“A lot of people do it for charity and we hope to raise a lot of money.

“The club supports Liverpool Heartbeat, which provides helps underprivileged children.

“But others do it for their own causes and we had everyone from all walks of life and of varying abilities.

“I had a lot of organising to do but I still made it in right at the end.

“The most important thing was that everyone had fun.

“A lot of people are threatening to come back and do it all over again next year which is great.

“It has become a tradition on the Liverpool calendar that we want to see go on and on.”