THOUSANDS of people flocked to the Dorset coast to enjoy the sunny weather on Saturday.
Clear blue skies and wall-to-wall sunshine create perfect conditions for beachgoers.
Many took a dip in the sea and tucked into ice cream in an attempt to cool off.
Temperatures of around 27C are forecast, with the mercury set to rise further over the coming days.
In Bournemouth there were umbrellas, deckchairs and canopies as far as the eye could see.
Cheeky video @Bournemouthecho pic.twitter.com/o5iV6DFOMM
— Andrew Goldman (@AndrewDailyEcho) July 16, 2022
Even though it was busy, there was still plenty of room on the sand.
Read more: How we’ll deal with the influx of beachgoers this weekend
Dot, 77, from Gillingham, said: “We haven’t been to Bournemouth since before Covid.
“Great to be back, best place to spend a summer weekend.”
In contrast, Christchurch’s Avon Beach was quieter.
The UK’s Health Safety Agency has issued a red heat warning for the whole of England, saying the hot weather is a “national emergency”.
Read more: ‘National emergency’: Red health alert issued over heat
A fourth level is reached “when the heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend beyond the health and social system… At this level, disease and death can occur among the fit and healthy, not just in the high-risk groups,” it said.
An amber “extreme heat” warning issued by the Met Office will be in place for Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and the rest of Dorset between 12am on Sunday and 11.59pm on Tuesday.
Read more: Heatwave: what you need to know if you live in Dorset
Elsewhere, a red weather alert will be in place for parts of the country, including London, Oxford, Essex, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and York.
It is the first time the Met Office has issued a red warning for extreme heat.
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