AN annual Boxing Day tradition which sees brave souls take a dip in freezing water for charity will not take place this year. 

The West Mersea RNLI and Mersea and District Lifeboat Guild have announced the event on the shores of the island will not go ahead in 2024. 

The famous event has raised £50,000 since it started 20 years ago. 

But organisers said insurance issues had put the kibosh on this year's event. 

In a statement they said: "Unfortunately, as preparations commenced for this year’s dip, the conditions that were needed to fulfil the insurance requirements, were impossible for the 2 groups to meet. Regretfully the decision was taken to cancel the dip from this year forward.

"The West Mersea RNLI and the Guild wish to thank everyone who has participated in the past to enable us to raise so much money and to entertain the people of Mersea on Boxing Day. We will truly miss the fun of the occasion, the camaraderie and the generosity of all who came to take part and to watch.

"It is too late to organise another large fundraising event for this year, but plans are afoot for 2025, so watch this space."

Fundraising - Mersea Island's Boxing Day dip in 2022 raised £4,000 for island's RNLI, the same amount as in recent yearsFundraising - Mersea Island's Boxing Day dip in 2022 raised £4,000 for island's RNLI, the same amount as in recent years (Image: Submitted)

Councillor Carl Powling said he was disappointed to hear the news.

He said: “As a mayor I took part in it twice, to help with the cause as it is a vital part of Mersea helping its vital lifeboats.

“It’s terribly disappointing as it used to be a great source of fundraising for the local lifeboat community.

"The community used to go down there, some of us in fancy dress, and it was a good fundraiser as people used to go down there and enjoy the boxing day dips before lunch.”

He added: It’s usually well covered there was lifeboat RNLI people down there, lots of people down there, and it was very well organised.

“It seems the insurance companies are trying to mitigate risk and stop things people have been doing for years - it does seem to have come down to health and insurance."

When asked if the council could intervene to save the annual event, Mr Powling said: “To go get councils to start interfering with things like that would be on the difficult side but councillors do work together with the charities.

“It might get overturned, but unfortunately, it’s beyond the power of a councillor or council."