St Andrews University students skinny dip in the sea as May Day celebrations see boozy Oxford studen

STUDENTS stripped off and ran into the freezing sea at raucous all-night May Day celebrations.

Hundreds of revellers in St Andrews, Scotland, ditched their clothes and bravely jumped into the bitterly cold North Sea.

The St Andrews skinny dip - known as the May Dip - isn't just for fun.
The annual ritual is believed to bring students good luck in their exams.

May Day celebrations have been taking place across Britain today as thousands take part in may pole dances.

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Revellers in dinner jackets and ballgowns filled the streets of Oxford to party until dawn in the city's annual ritual.

Thousands flocked to Magdalen College, Oxford, to hear the choir sing hymns as the sun rose at 6am.

Morris dancers and entertainers filled the streets this morning as the all-night celebrations continued.

May Day tradition sees students strip off and jump into the River Cherwell.

But the practice was stopped in 2005 after 40 students injured themselves jumping into 2ft of water.

The traditions date back 500 years and is attended by more than 25,000 people, who either get up at the crack of join to take part or stay up all night.

May Day has long been celebrated in Britain and dates back to the traditional pagan festival Beltane.

Worshippers flocked to Glastonbury, Somerset, to celebrate the event with ancient customs such as dancing round a May pole.

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