AS the end of 2021 approaches and we look forward to celebrating New Year’s Eve, we decided to look through the archives at previous new year celebrations.

They include a picture of three proud mothers with their new year babies, Cockermouth mum Louise Paton, (seated in the photo) with Beth Lauren.

On the left, is Victoria Carr, from Whitehaven, with daughter Lucy Anna and the third – and the only boy – was Riley Thomas, son of Samantha Swinburn of Seaton.

Time flies and these gorgeous babies will be teenagers now.

Those not busy having babies do other things and a lot of it involves hurling themselves into freezing cold water.

Also pictured here are two women leaping off the Maryport harbour bridge to riase money for charity.

Other activities are probably safer but, if we may so, just as crazy.

These include the people who get dressed up in everything from Santa Claus suits to white tie and tails and throw themselves into the freezing sea.

This is a particular sport in Allonby where the New Year’s Day Dook attracts most of village to either watch or take part.

Again, the threat of hypothermia is in a good cause!

Others go orienteering while others stay at home and party.

We could not resist a photo which shows the Mulgrew family enjoying welcoming the new Millennium.

The late Florence Mulgrew (in the centre) was one of Maryport’s best known and much-loved characters. She danced, became a dance teacher and, for many years, organised dance festivals in the town.

So that is New Year West Cumbrian style, with a bit of Chinese New Year thrown in.

Whatever you are doing to greet 2022, we hope you all enjoy yourself and that the coming year will give us some respite from the coronavirus which has changed all our lives so drastically.

Happy New Year to all of those in these photos and to all our readers.