In pictures: UK splashes, shops and races its way through Boxing Day

People across the UK have been enjoying traditional Boxing Day activities by going swimming, shopping and watching sport.

Swimming is synonymous with 26 December, when many charity swims take place across the country, including on the coast of the North Sea.

Fancy dress is considered appropriate for these events.

Santa outfits and hats were prominent at Ayr Beach for the Ayrshire Cancer Support Boxing Day Dip.

One swimmer dressed up as Homer Simpson.

With temperatures in some parts of the country hitting record highs for the festive period, it was perhaps no surprise that the annual event was well attended.

There are several such dips held in the UK and Europe, but the largest is organised by the Red Sky Foundation and Lions Club of Sunderland.

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The Folkestone Lions’ Boxing Day Dip at Sunny Sands Beach also proved popular.

In London, people were combining two British traditions – queueing and shopping – as they turned out for the start of the Boxing Day sales.

Anyone waiting for Harrods to open was offered sustenance by staff at the Knightsbridge store.

But even though shoppers are expected to pack out high streets across the UK looking for bargains on Tuesday, there were reports of unusually quiet sales on Oxford Street in the capital.

One shopper, Tufael Ahmed, 47, said: “We were here last year and the queues were much longer – there’s a marked difference.

“I just don’t think people have money and you get the impression that the retailers have already discounted things before and now they’re taking it for granted.”

Several retailers – including Marks & Spencer, Next and Gap – did not even open up.

There were big crowds, however, at various Boxing Day sporting events.

Sport is a large part of the UK’s Boxing Day tradition and football features heavily.

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Nottingham Forest striker, Chris Wood, scored a hat-trick in their 3-1 win at Newcastle in the Premier League.

Eight horseracing meetings in the UK, including big-name events at Kempton Park and Aintree, and other meetings in Ireland, also went ahead.

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