A daily bucket of icy water poured over the head 'helps block winter illnesses, and makes children optimistic'.

.....and afterwards, time for wee dram!

It is a medical fact that children are healthier if they daily run out into the snow in their swimming costumes - and pour a bucket of cold water over their heads.

Growing number of brave Siberians strip off for the winter, with debate raging about the benefits of taking to the snow and ice naked.

Fast-freezing clothes, hot water fireworks, ice and snow bathing, vodka lollipops, dog sledging - see our report from the Kingdom of Cold.

Swimming 1km, in the middle of the winter, in Siberia, at water temperature of zero Celsius and air temperature below -30C.

Drone footage shows army of surfers paddling a chunk of ice in Ussuri Bay.

Amazing scenes as Russia’s iciest region of Yakutia plunges to near record lows, and even the thermometer in the world’s coldest village breaks down.

The unusual swimmer stunned fishermen who said they never saw bears venturing so far out to sea.