Annual skinny dip had become 'sea of cameras'

Jax Higginson said naked swimming brings her clarity

The organiser of a popular skinny dip said photography rules had to be brought in after the event turned from a "sea of bodies" into a "sea of cameras".

Jax Higginson, 47, from Sunderland, organises the North East Skinny Dip, which will be held at Druridge Bay in Northumberland on Sunday morning.

When the event started 13 years ago, Ms Higginson said social media was not as prominent and there was no need to limit the use of cameras.

But as the event grew in popularity, she said many complained too many phones were "ruining" their skinny dip experience.

She said the issue first became apparent a couple of years ago.

"Even I, as someone who is less bothered by cameras and unafraid of being seen - even I was shocked by the number of cameras.

"Instead of a sea of bodies, it had become a sea of cameras," she said.

The event has raised £160,000 for charity since it began

Last year, she found she had put "people's backs up" by suggesting a blanket-ban on photography.

Consequently, this year photographs will be limited to one area of the beach only, meaning "people are free to make a choice".

Numbered posts are typically placed along the beach to help swimmers retrieve their belongings. This year, the area marked between one and thee will be the area where cameras are allowed.

Ms Higginson said she believed creating boundaries was "healthy and good".

"The most important thing for me was to create a safe environment, so that everybody could surrender to their own experience."

"Some dippers, for whatever reason, simply cannot risk their naked body appearing on the internet," she said.

'Clarity and healing'

Ms Higginson pleaded with participants to ensure they only uploaded content to social media which featured people in their party who had consented to being portrayed.

Swimmers will take the plunge at 07:00 BST to mark the autumn equinox.

The event has raised £160,000 for mental health charity Mind over the years.

Ms Higginson said the event was her "entire life" and she put her heart and soul into organising it.

"I'm an open-water swimmer and I love swimming naked, or as naked as possible, when the situation allows," she said.

"It has always been my go-to for clarity and healing - so I just wanted to share it with other people."