A CHARITABLE parrot is to brave the winter weather and cold waters to raise money for charity.

Darren Winter, marketing co-ordinator for Coast and Country Housing based in Redcar is taking part in a charity dress up dip in the North Sea.

Mr Winter will be taking the plunge with friend, Phil Leng as part of the Redcar Boxing Day Dip 2016, organised by the Redcar Rotary Club.

The two will be in fancy dress, Mr Winter dressed up as a parrot and Mr Leng as a carrot.

The rhyming partners hope to raise £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, Teesside Hospice and the South Cleveland Heart Fund.

Mr Winter said: “It’s my first time taking part in the dip, which looks great fun and rather than being a spectator this year, I decided to get involved. Our chosen charities deliver vital services such as cancer support, heart procedures and respite support, and you never know if you or I might need to rely on their exemplary work someday, so it is important to give back and support worthy causes.”

Mr Leng added: “The Dip is an excellent initiative and it will be my first time too, so I am looking forward to it. It is always a fun event in Redcar and hopefully we will be able to raise as much money as possible for these fantastic charities.”