New year marked by colourful parade and freezing dips

The first day of the year has been marked in colourful style by thousands of people across the nation.

They turned out on a bright but chilly New Year’s Day to watch parades and performers – and also to go for a quick dip.

Thousands gathered in central London for the annual New Year’s Day Parade (LNYDP), which is now in its 33rd year to see marching bands and performers.

LNYDP communications director Dan Kirkby said the event had gone “incredibly well”. It was “a cool and crisp day but very invigorating” and there was a “fantastic crowd of people from all over the world” there to see it.

It involved more than 8,000 performers from more than 20 nationalities ranging from dancers to marching bands, and giant balloons to stunt riders, according to London mayor Sadiq Khan.

In a message on the LNYDP website, Mr Khan said there was “really is no better place to welcome in the New Year than London”.

He said the aim was to “turn some of our most iconic streets into a sea of joy and colour”.

There also colourful scenes of revellers, many of whom had come in fancy dress, who flocked to the shores of South Queensferry for a swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth.

The event, known as the Loony Dook, is part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Traditional tartan warriors, a Donald Trump lookalike and someone on an inflatable unicorn were among the colourful images.

Organisers said Tony Pirouet, who came in a home-made costume as a man on a toilet, won the fancy dress prize a £250 donation to his chosen charity of East Fife and Scooniehill Riding for the Disabled.

In a joint statement, Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam, the directors of Underbelly who produce the event and of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, said: “Today, New Year’s Day, over 1,000 participants from 23 countries jumped from the shores of South Queensferry into the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth for the much loved Loony Dook.

“It was fantastic being a ‘Dooker’ welcoming the new year. It’s terrific how much energy and excitement the Loony Dook generates and the fantastic fancy dress costumes people make and the money generated for charity. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year!”

The annual Scarborough Lions New Year’s Day Dip, which encourages people to arrive at the beach in fancy dress for a dip in the North Sea, also took place.

Scarborough Lions Treasurer Roy Chambers said: “Everybody was good humoured. The crowds were in excess of 3,000 spectators. It is nice to see eveone on the first of January with a smile on their face and also making contribution.”

Donations are still being collected and will go towards helping people in the community.

Revellers also came out for the Barry Island New Year’s Day swim in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

Inflatable ducks and unicorns plus people dressed as mermaids and Daleks could be seen.