Dippers were asked to don costumes and this duo went as a Christmas tree and whoopee cushion Thousands of people braved the cold North Sea for ... of the biggest was at Seaburn beach in Sunderland ...

Hundreds also took the plunge at Longsands beach in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, Seaburn in Sunderland and Little Haven in South Shields. Mrs Butler added: "The feeling when you get into the water ...

Paul Linford, from Sunderland, was inside a caravan with his partner, four-year-old grandaughter and pet dog when they had to be rescued from the site in Seaburn at about 02:55 BST. The local ...