Parts of South East see hottest day of year so far

A woman enjoys the sun outside a beach hut in Folkestone in Kent

Parts of the south-east of England have seen their hottest day of the year so far for the second day in a row.

A provisional temperature of 29.1C (84F) in Chertsey in Surrey on Thursday afternoon, 27C at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex and 26C in Frittenden in Kent were recorded.

A high of 29.3C at Kew Gardens in London gave the UK its warmest start to May on record.

Seaside resorts across the South East have said the hot weather has given them a "real boost".

Mike Bridges, from Visit Broadstairs in Kent, said a string of warm days can make a difference to the local economy.

He said: "The town really comes to life on days like this.

"We have people coming in from London, we have people coming in from all over Kent, and we just love it.

"It gives the whole area a well needed financial boost."

Visitors enjoyed the sunshine at this Eastbourne seafront restaurant

Andrew Webb runs Kent Surf School at Viking and Joss Bays in Thanet.

He said: "Last year was challenging as the weather wasn't that great and the cost of living crisis meant people didn't have much money.

"However, we're hopeful for more sunny days like this."

Shoes Simes, vice president of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce, said: "We've had a couple of years where the summer hasn't really kicked in until later in the year, so it has been tough.

"Hopefully this year we have a good summer after a good spring and it will massively help the industry."

The Datchet Border Morris group performed for May Day in the heat in Runnymede in Surrey

Health authorities have offered advice for staying cool in the heat:

• Make sure you are drinking enough water and eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon and cucumbers, to avoid dehydration

• Wear loose-fitting clothing and breathable fabrics, such as cotton, linen and moisture-wicking synthetics

• Opt for a hat and sunglasses for extra protection and to avoid direct sunlight

• Stay in the shade - the NHS recommends avoiding the sun between 11:00 to 15:00 BST, generally the hottest part of the day

• Live: The hottest May 1 in the UK on record

The RSPCA has also warned about the dangers of leaving dogs in cars.

The weather is due to start cooling down on Friday in advance of the May Bank Holiday weekend.

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