Twelve people had to be rescued from violent waters during Brighton's traditional Christmas day swim.

Dozens of people braved the freezing waters, despite rough seas that deterred experienced swimmers.

Brighton Swimming Club called off its official swim near the Palace Pier because conditions were too dangerous.

But some from the club chose to go into the sea anyway, along with many members of the public.

Crashing waves and 28mph south to south-westerly winds made it the most risky Christmas day swim for a number of years.

Paul Smith, from Brighton Swimming School, abandoned his attempt to swim round the pier for charity and instead helped the swimming club rescue stricken swimmers. St John Ambulance and Brighton Lifeboat were also on standby in case anything went wrong. The swim at 11am was half an hour before high tide.

Mr Smith said: "We did about 12 rescues altogether. One man who was about 61, went through the waves and as he tried to come out a wave bashed him down completely. Me and a friend managed to scoop him up with a wave. We grabbed him by his waist. The wave then squashed us both and we lost him. I couldn't see him and thought he was gone forever until he popped up again beside me.

"Different people came in and helped. They grabbed his arms and legs and we just dragged him until he was out of the waves.

"He was very upset. He'd had a close shave."

The rough seas also played havoc with people's swimwear with one man, aged about 40, losing his swimming trunks and having to emerge from the water naked.

Mr Smith said: "People on the beach didn't understand the waves were so powerful. The man was really embarrassed.

"Guys like myself go swimming there regularly but we wouldn't have gone in in those conditions. It was only because it was Christmas day that people went in. People just ended up getting overpowered by the waves. It took everyone by surprise.

"I thought the problem would be the cold but it was actually the quality of the surf. I'm amazed how many people were going in swimming. Some of the waves were 8ft."

Among the dippers were 16 people dressed as penguins, ranging from young children to pensioners.

The group was organised by Gill Attrill and Justin Spray and their friends from the North Laine area of Brighton, who last year dressed as angels and a pantomime cow.

Mum Alison Constable, 42, and her two daughters Ella, seven, and Casey, five, had a paddle while wearing all their clothes, shoes and penguin costumes.

Alison said: "It was great fun. The last few years it has been very calm so we are all set with swimming costumes underneath, but the weather didn't allow it."

Casey said: "It was cold."

Ella said: "I wet my trainers."

Ben Carroll, a 19-year-old student from Sussex Road, Hove, swims in the sea at least once a month. He said: "This is the second year I've done it. It's just a good atmosphere and everybody comes out.

"It's the thrill of jumping in the sea. Last year it was worse. There were no waves and it was freezing cold so we were standing neck deep in the water.

"This time you can stand and watch the waves.

"I stayed in for about three minutes. It was too cold and choppy to stay any longer."

Deborah Winterburn, 43, an occupational therapist of Belgrave Place, Brighton, said: "We have our relatives down from Derbyshire and got them all in to have a swim. I found the sea freezing cold and a bit choppy. I'm an ex-triathlete so I'm used to swimming in the sea a lot.

"I think we've earned our turkey."

Cynthia Samblas, Southover Street, Brighton, 36, teacher, said: "It was very challenging out there but the whole experience was invigorating. I did it as endurance training for the London Marathon."

For their work running the event, Brighton Swimming Club collected donations for the Martlets Hospice in Hove. Last year they raised more than £1,000.

Paul Smith, of Brighton Swimming School, plans another attempt to swim around the pier for charity on new year's day at 11am.