A group of plucky fund-raisers saw in 2013 by plunging into the cold North Sea at Gorleston in aid of a hospice charity that provides care to people in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney areas.

The 50 swimmers and paddlers took part in a New Year's Day Dip to raise funds for the St Elizabeth Hospice, which cares and supports for people living with a progessive illness from its bases in Gorleston, Lowestoft, Beccles and Ditchingham.

There were loud cheers from a small army of on-lookers at Gorleston beach opposite the bandstand as the fool hardy 'dippers' ran into the sea at 10.30am.

Some of the fund-raisers wore fancy dress, such as an elf, a lion and Father Christmas costume, while others braved the sea in just their trunks.

It is hoped the 50 dippers will raise �3,000 for the St Elizabeth Hospice, with the cash hopefully funding a hospice nurse for a month.

And as well as providing a vital funding boost to the charity, yesterday's event, which was the first of its kind, also helped raise the awareness of the work of the St Elizabeth Hospice in the region.

The charity is investing �2.2m in the next three years to grow local hospice care for local people

The St Elizabeth Hospice needs to find �8.7m to run its services in Norfolk and Suffolk.

For information visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk or call 01473 727776.