The tide has turned on Musselburgh’s Loony Dook, which won’t go ahead this New Year’s Day.

The annual event sees dozens of hardy souls, many in fancy dress, brave the icy waters of the Forth at Fisherrow’s Back Sands to celebrate the start of the new year.

However, predicted high tide times on January 1, 2020 are not favourable, say organisers, who fear participants would have to “dook in the dark”.

Pauline Crerar, a trustee of Fisherrow Waterfront Group which organises the event, said that the decision had been taken not to go ahead with the 2020 Loony Dook but added it was hoped the 2021 event would run as usual.

She said: “High tide on January 1 is 6.36am and 6.39pm and low tide is at 11.45am. Sunrise is around 8.30am and sunset is before 4pm.

“When the tide is in at a reasonable distance for folk to dook, it will be dark.

“At Fisherrow, the water disappears quite a distance at low tide and we feel it’s safer to be in the water when the tide is high or coming in.

“We are disappointed but we can’t turn the tide – it’s just one of those things.

“The dook is a new year tradition so it’s not as if we can change the date to suit the water.

“We just feel a bit more nervous about suggesting people go off on a 500m hike to swim in an area that’s less familiar.

“This is the first time since we have been trying to hold this event that the tides have been against us. It’s hard to see when a good time will be because low tide is in the middle of the day.

“I’m afraid the tide times and heights are different every day so I’m not sure when there will be enough water for a dook – presumably first thing or just before dark would be the best times.”

She added: “As far as I’m aware, there will still be a dook at Portobello around lunchtime and presumably also North Berwick.”

The first Fisherrow Loony Dook was held on January 1, 2015.

It was organised by the Musselburgh Riding of the Marches team and another took place to herald the start of 2016 – the year of the Riding of the Marches, which takes place every 21 years.

Organisation of the dook was then taken over by Fisherrow Waterfront Group.

The dook has attracted bigger crowds each year, with about 60 people taking the plunge last time out.

Pauline said: “2021 will be better as low tide is at 9.25am and reaches high tide at sunset around 4pm, so we will be able to do the dook late afternoon.”

Irene Tait, chair of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, said: “We know people would be expecting it to take place but tides are not compatible.

“Hopefully it will go ahead again in 2021.”