SCORES of swimmers defied "nanny state" council warnings and barriers to take part in the historic Christmas swim at Brighton beach.

Hardy swimmers stripped down to the traditional uniform of bikinis and Santa hats to take advantage of one of the mildest Christmas Days on record for an "invigorating" swim in the sea.

But some bemoaned the reduction in participants at the traditional swim following moves by Brighton and Hove City Council to dissuade residents from heading into the sea.

Elsewhere in the country, seafront towns and cities saw hundreds of swimmers enter the water while thousands of other residents come together to watch the spectacle.

More than 1,000 people took part in the festive swim at Porthcawl, Wales, with similar numbers seen at Bude in Cornwall.

Hundreds were also recorded taking a dip at Lowestoft in Suffolk, record-breaking numbers for the swim in Weymouth in Dorset while Exmouth in Devon saw busy beaches.

Swimmers in the city who ignored council warnings to continue a tradition that has lasted since 1885 described it as a "most refreshing" 9C on one of the warmest Christmas Days ever recorded though some onlookers said conditions were far from ideal with "massive waves".

Council bosses had been concerned that the unseasonably mild weather would attract larger numbers to the seafront.

They warned anyone considering entering the water that while sea temperatures were being recorded at around 11C , the sea temperature can drop suddenly and "fatally" to around 5C or even colder very quickly.

Seafront safety officers were also concerned that some participants might have had a Christmas tipple or summoned up a bit of Dutch courage to enter the water with alcohol speeding up the onset of hypothermia inc old water.

As well as swimmers taking a dip between the two piers, a separate seafront swim was organised for Hove seafront at 11am on Christmas Day.

One photographer of the event wrote on social media the event was much smaller than in previous years because of council efforts to try and stop it.

Clifford Manny wrote on Facebook: "It seems the Brighton Council were unsuccessful again this year in stopping the Christmas Day swim.

"I think their resources could be applied to better things."

Resident Neil Cannon-Barnes wrote on Facebook: "Just been for my Christmas Day swim in the sea at Brighton with my husband.

"We did draw a bit of a crowd . Quite invigorating swim."

BRIGHTON and Hove City Council’s attempts to “tape off the sea” have brought national attention to the city with many national newspapers taking a negative view of the move.

Many of those stories were sparked by critical comments in The Argus from one health campaigner who accused seafront bosses of “nanny state” behaviour by trying to prevent one of the city’s great Christmas traditions.

Health campaigner and regular sea swimmer John Kapp told The Argus that the council’s approach to try and dissuade swimmers from having a Christmas morning dip was misguided and unlikely to succeed.

The 81-year-old put his own good health down to the invigorating qualities of a dip in the sea whatever the season.

The council’s seafront officers have been urging residents and visitors to stay away from the sea this winter.

Concerns have been raised that the recent mild weather had drawn more people onto the beaches with many getting dangerously close to the crashing waves.

The authority said parents needed to "take greater responsibility" to keep their children away from the sea and stop them playing "chicken" with large waves.

Seafront operations manager Chris Ingall said: “It’s been great to see so many people enjoying a stroll on the promenade and its good news for seafront businesses, but we would ask people to stay on the path or high up on the beach, especially when the sea conditions are rough.

“Sea swimming takes skill, stamina and knowledge of the physical dangers and should only be for the very experienced, using suitable wetsuits, in very calm conditions and with a friend.

“Even on a calm day sea currents, undertow or a sudden change in weather can create life threatening hazards without warning. Even experienced swimmers can get caught out.”