Packed beaches sound the red alert

WITH sun-seekers crammed tightly on to almost every inch of sand, this was the scene at Bournemouth beach yesterday as massive crowds flocked to the coast as Britain’s heatwave continued.

Some people had camped out overnight to secure the best slots, and by lunchtime most of the area’s 24 beaches were under red alert, indicating social distancing was no longer possible under a new council warning scheme. All along the Dorset coast, car parks were closed as they hit capacity.

Motorists in a mile-and-a-half-long queue of cars heading for Durdle Door were given no option but to turn around and head home, with a spokesman for Dorset Police admitting there were some ‘very unhappy people’. Despite numerous serious injuries at Durdle Door already this year, daredevils were again spotted leaping from rocks into the sea. At Bawsey Pitts, Norfolk, a swimmer died after getting into difficulty.

Elsewhere, Brighton beach was similarly packed, and Sussex Police also turned away cars heading to Camber Sands as early as 10am. Scenes in Abersoch, North Wales, were described as ‘bedlam’, and visitors to Broadstairs and Margate in Kent were warned that social distancing was ‘difficult’ and asked to ‘come back when it’s quieter’.

Across the country, crowds appeared unconcerned by fears of coronavirus as large groups mixed closely without masks.

The highest temperature of 34.5C (94F) was recorded in Kent, slightly down on Friday’s 36.4C (97.5F) peak – the hottest August day since 2003.