THE tradition of taking a dip in the icy waters of the North Sea on Boxing Day will be maintained up and down the North-East coast tomorrow (Friday, December 26).

Charities and worthy causes across the region will benefit from the efforts of hardy souls braving the Boxing Day breezes and chills, many in fancy dress, to shake off the festive excesses.

The biggest event in the region is traditionally at Seaburn, in Sunderland, where members of the city's Lions Club first dipped their feet into the water for the now hardy Boxing Day ritual 40 years ago to the day.

Up to 1,000 dippers are expected to join the parade led by Sunderland's Mayor Stuart Porthouse from the Seaburn Centre, across Whitburn Road to the beach, at 11am.

This year will be the final mass dip entry by a team organised by local fundraiser Julie Reay, which has provided more than £150,000 help for local charities in the ten years since first entering in memory of Mrs Reay's son, 13-year-old Peter Lane, who died following a rope swing tragedy two years earlier.

Mrs Reay's Footprints in the Sand team has won the Lions Club trophy for the most money raised in the dip for the last nine years and hopes to go out on a high by repeating the achievement for a tenth time.

Vying for the title of the region's oldest dip is the annual effort organised by Redcar Rotary Club, now in its 45th year.

Dippers are asked to gather at The Livery, in the town's High Street, for registration and wristband collection from 10am, with the procession to the promenade, and the entry point at the Beacon Steps, at 11am.

The running of another of the region's longest-standing dips has been taken over by Hartlepool Round Table, backed by a team of more than 20 volunteers, since 2012.

Now said to be in its 43rd year, the dip takes place just down the coast at Seaton Carew.

Entrants are asked to meet in the ball room at the Staincliffe Hotel, on The Cliff, from 10am, with another 11am start from the nearby beach.

A few miles further north, at Seaham, East Durham Round Table is staging the annual dip at the town's North Dock Marina.

Organiser Paul Hepple said the event, one of the newer dips, is gathering pace, with hopes of attracting 300 dippers this year.

Registration takes place at the harbour dockside, from 10.30am, with an 11am start from the slop beach at the marina.

St Clare's Hospice, at Jarrow, is holding its annual dip at Little Haven Beach, in nearby South Shields, while the North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards prefer to stage a Boxing Day Swim, from its headquarters, on the Central Lower Promenade, at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, both also starting at 11am.