COLD water swimmers banned from the beach due to lockdown have been dipping in wheelie bins to get their fix. New Zealand man Ian Stimpson was not much of a swimmer growing up but is now “addicted” to dips in the cold North Sea after living in the North-East for 22 years. Despite living on the coast in South Shields, Mr Stimpson borrows his neighbour’s wheelie bin – “because it gets jet washed” unlike his – to dip in when the sea is too rough. He said: “The endorphins are addictive.” The 54-year-old is now taking part in a Polar Bear Challenge to swim every day from November to March and raise money for Endometriosis UK after a friend shared her experience with the condition publicly.