Beach babes: From left to right, best friends Lucy Martin, Polly Mayman and Tiree Jahn from Lymington in Hampshire keep their cool on Bournemouth beach yesterday as the mercury soared into the 30sAnyone would think we’ve been starved of sunshine this summer...
As temperatures soared to leave parts of Britain hotter than Rio de Janeiro, thousands of families headed for the south coast – filling the beaches to bursting point.
Forecasters recorded a high of 30.4C (86.7F) at London’s Olympic Park. It was the highest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year.
And it seems the sun-seekers were wise to make the most of their day by the sea – because although the fine weather will continue today, tomorrow is likely to see the return of the all-too-familiar rain.
Seaside under seige: Thousands of families compete for a precious place on the pebbles as they head to the south coast yesterday - the hottest day of the yearThe Met Office said there was a 50/50 chance of showers during the Olympic opening ceremony in Stratford, East London, tomorrow evening and a 20 per cent chance they would be heavy.
It may mean the fake clouds and rain – said to be included in Danny Boyle’s vision for the show – will be rendered unnecessary.
Better than Brazil: With temperatures beating Rio, the Dorset resort saw 100,000 sun-seekers surge to the sand yesterday
The unsettled conditions are set to continue next week, with temperatures managing only 17C (63F) at the weekend and a risk of thunder on Saturday.Barry Gromett, of the Met Office, said: ‘At the moment, we have high pressure coming up from continental Europe, hence the clear skies and hot weather in the South. Next week, we will return to a mixture of sunshine, showers and cooler temperatures.’
Yesterday’s temperature beat the previous day by a fraction of a degree and was even higher than that in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where temperatures reached just 27C (81F).
In Bournemouth, 100,000 people hit the beaches. Staff at a sea-front ice cream kiosk reckoned takings were up four-fold compared with recent weeks. At nearby Poole, all the beach furniture had been hired out by 11am when an estimated 30,000 sun-seekers arrived.
On the Isle of Wright, meanwhile, a road was closed when it started to blister and melt in the heat.
Not everyone is enjoying glorious weather, however, with Scotland and Northern Ireland seeing temperatures of no more than 19C (66F) so far this week.
The mini-heatwave has brought warnings to the elderly, with Age UK suggesting they remain indoors during the worst of the heat.
‘We advise wearing light clothing, drinking adequately and replacing salt lost through sweating by eating normally,’ a spokesman added.
Making the most of it: It was hard to find an inch of sand among the crowds on the beach at West Wittering, West SussexThe sea temperature was a refreshing 18C and thousands were splashing around in it. Ice cream salesmen were doing a roaring trade and sea front businesses were delighted that the sun emerged in time for the school holidays.
Many workers took well-timed sickies and thousands of boats and other craft were out at sea.
Lucy Reeve, 32, and husband Dave, 33, an IT worker, from Southampton, Hants, were on Bournemouth beach with their daughter Sian, six, and son Tom, four.
Mrs Reeve said: 'Thank goodness the sun is here or we wouldn't know what to do. We have come to stay with my mum for the first week of the school holidays and it's wonderful.
'After all the rain we've had we thought we'd never see the sun this summer, but it's like being abroad. The sea is wonderfully refreshing and perfectly clear. There are long queues for ice creams, but it's worth the wait.'
Even the police were enjoying themselves: A police officer in short sleeves and sunglasses patrols an entrance gate at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, prior to the start of the women's Olympics soccer match between Great Britain and New ZealandThe tour started in March in Leicester and took in every corner of the UK, during which they travelled by a range of means - car, royal train, aircraft and ship.
Elsewhere on the Isle of Wight a road had to be closed when it started melting. The busy stretch of road at Blackwater was shut to allow contractors to lay fresh chippings on the tarmac which had blistered and started to melt in the heat of the blazing sun.
The road was closed from the junction of Blackwater Hollow to the Crouchers Cross junction with Merstone Lane to allow the work to take place.
Navvies were called in after drivers found their cars were being splattered with thick, black, sticky tar where the surface dressing was melting and lifting.
Baking: Thousands flocked onto Britain's beaches - West Wittering in West Sussex was packed - to take advantage of the hot weather before it turns to rain next weekDrivers were advised to take alternative routes said a council spokesman who revealed that the same stretch of road had been hit by problems in the last hot spell a few months ago.
The Duchess of Cornwall was prepared for the sweltering weather when she toured a rural show yesterday. Camilla waved a fan as she walked around the Sandringham Flower Show with the Prince of Wales.
Charles is a regular visitor to the event - a traditional country fair that features steam engines, local produce, community stalls and fairground rides among its many attractions. It is staged on the Queen’s private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and this year celebrates its 131st anniversary.
Yummy: Seven-year-old Helena and Bethany Ferrans, five, enjoy an ice cream on Southsea beach during the hottest day of the year so far
Oooh, that's nice: An African elephant at West Midlands Safari Park, Bewdley, enjoys a cooling foot spritz from head of elephants Andy Plumb
Bombing: Children prepare to bomb the Jesus Green swimming pool - the longest outdoor pool in Europe - in Cambridge during the hottest day of the year
Cool breakfast: Macaque monkeys enjoyed a carrot ice lolly or two at Bristol Zoo this morning as the mercury started to soar towards 31C
Hot cars: Drivers swelter in the hot weather as they queue in the one remaining lane of the A40 in London, left, and right, on Marylebone Road, London on the first day of the Olympic Lanes being opensource: dailymail
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