‘Wall to wall’ sunny blue skies and scorching highs of 79F are expected to hit the UK today and tomorrow in a mini heatwave set to peak with 80F temperatures on Wednesday, after a wet and windy start to the weekend kept crowds off the beaches.
Two days of heavy rain and blustering winds saw a quieter start to the bank holiday weekend, as punters stayed in despite the reopening of many outdoor bars in parks and on beaches across the country.
However with highs of 77F (25C) and 79F (26C) expected in the south east and London tomorrow, with temperatures hotter than Ibiza and Marbella, Spain.
Elsewhere on the country’s coastlines temperatures are expected to stay at around a moderate 70F (21C) to 72F (22C) with clear sunny skies, meaning many UK beauty spots could be set to see a repeat of Wednesday’s scenes, as 80F temperatures saw clashes between locals and sun-seeking tourists on the hottest day of the year so far.
One seaside town has buckled and – despite fears about the virus spreading – and will reluctantly open its public toilets this holiday weekend to stop ‘invaders’ using the beach as a toilet.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s leader Carl Smith said ‘With the bank holiday weekend and second week of relaxed restrictions bringing the increased possibility of more tourists venturing further afield, we have decided to re-open a limited number of seafront toilets at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston from tomorrow for emergency use in the interests of public health, which remains our top priority.
People sit on the beach at the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
People walk down a footpath towards the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
‘Provision of hand sanitiser in those toilets and more regular cleansing, along with posters encouraging hand-washing and social distancing, will help to manage the risk of inflection as far as practically possible.’
‘But while the council is opening public toilets, their message remains unchanged: tourists should be sensible and avoid the coast.’
Mr Smith added ‘I would ‘like to give a big thank you to the vast majority of usual tourists who listened to our clear advice, acted responsibly and stayed away.
‘While we can’t stop people from coming, ‘stay away, save lives’ is still Great Yarmouth’s clear message.’
To get this message across, the council’s seafront carparks and attractions will remain shut.
Waxham Sands holiday park’s head of security Fred Folkes said that there were plenty of signs and barriers warning people the park was shut last weekend, but families ‘ignored them anyway’.
He said the park had been ‘subject to an invasion of conceited’ day trippers.
Many climbed over locked gates and urinated on the dunes of Waxham Sand’s private half-mile beach.
Queues form at Hot Rocks bar in Bournemouth, Dorset, as people buy takeaway alcohol while standing in close proximity
A couple are seen making their way to the beach after visiting the bar (left). A man carries several drinks in plastic cups to friends on the beach (right) in Bournemouth, Dorset, as temperatures exceed Ibiza
The long queues extend around the bar as people attempt to social distance, but stand within two meters of each other
Bar goers head to the beach after securing their pints at the bar as temperatures soar in the south of England, Bournemouth, Dorset
A barman takes cash for drinks while wearing protective gloves, in Bournemouth, Dorset, amid the coronavirus pandemic
Highs of 77F (25C) and 79F (26C) expected in the south east and London tomorrow. Elsewhere on the country’s coastlines temperatures are expected to stay at around a moderate 70F (21C) to 72F (22C) with clear sunny skies
In an update posted on the park’s Facebook page, Mr Folkes said ‘We have had communication with Norfolk Police who in turn have met with our MP, and I have been told that extra resources have been put in place for this coming weekend.
‘Hopefully that will deter people from urinating everywhere.’
‘We still want tourists to stay away to help control the spread of this deadly infectious virus and save lives.
‘Please do not be tempted to congregate on our coast, risking the safety of yourself, your family and the local community. It’s still not the right time for tourism.’
Disgusted locals say because public conveniences are closed and people can’t pop into shops or pubs they are going to the toilet on beaches, at picnic sites and some are even nipping over the fence to do it in back gardens and on lawns.
Maggie Arthurs, 33, a mum-of-two from Sheringham on the Norfolk coast said: ‘They leave their business all over the place, then they jump back in their cars at the end of their day out and drive home, leaving us to clear it up.
‘With the hotter weather the place has been heaving with families who obviously aren’t local – some have come from Birmingham, others from Sheffield.
‘Residents have found human faeces in their gardens and even near their front doors – it’s just not on.
Families enjoy the warm weather on Preston beach on May 24, 2020 in Weymouth, United Kingdom, as ‘wall to wall’ sunshine takes over in the south west
People walk along the esplanade on Preston beach on May 24, 2020 in Weymouth. The British government has started easing the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, abandoning its ‘stay at home’ slogan in favour of a message to ‘be alert’
A family walk along the sea front at Preston Beach in Weymouth, south west England, on bank holiday Sunday
A couple leave their bikes on the beach as they enjoy a rest on Preston Beach in Weymouth amid the coronavirus pandemic
Individuals sit two meters apart in the sun on Preston Beach, May 24, in Weymouth, as cruise ships are seen anchored out to sea
People enjoy the warm weather on Preston beach on May 24, 2020 in Weymouth, early afternoon. This year’s Spring bank holiday is set to be around 50F (10C) warmer than last year
‘These people must realise the public toilets are shut and they can’t visit pubs or restaurants.
‘If they’re on a day out, they are bound to want to use the loo, so they have complete disregard for our community and just poo and wee wherever they think fit.
‘The stink is awful, there are flies all over it and we’re worried about the health risk to our children.’
Local daytrippers are likely to clog roads arriving at beaches as ten million short leisure car journeys are being made in the UK this weekend, the RAC said.
The RAC said: ‘There will be jams on local roads leading to beaches and beauty spots, probably made up of people living within easy reach.’
Met Office Meteorologist Alex Burkhill said: ‘Today will see quite a bit of cloud towards northern and eastern parts of the UK and some outbreaks of rain mainly across Scotland. But cloud will break up and any rain should largely clear up by the end of the day.
‘Towards south western parts of the UK there will be lots of sunshine and particularly through the afternoon it will be wall to wall blue sky across many parts of Wales, South England and Northern Ireland.
A canoeist and dog paddle down the river in Christchurch, Dorset, as they enjoy the warm temperatures expected across the south of England today
People sit on the grass bank overlooking the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
A cruise ship anchored in the English Channel is pictured through the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
Cruise ships are seen at anchor off of the Isle of Portland. Travellers arriving in Britain will face 14 days in quarantine from next month to prevent a second coronavirus outbreak, the government announced on Friday
A man takes a selfie photo atop the Durdle Door rock, as a Cruise ship is seen in the sea beyond, near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
People pass rows of parked vehicles in the car park as they walk on a leading to the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
A woman pulls her child away from the drop at at Birling Gap, near Eastbourne, as people travel to parks, beaches and beauty spots with lockdown measures eased
‘Temperatures are not as high as tomorrow, but still warm, reaching 70F (21C) or 72F (22C) today – slightly higher than yesterday. Tonight will be a clear and calm night, a little bit chilly in places with temperatures falling to low single figures, 37F (3C) or 39F (4C).
‘Tomorrow will be clear and sunny with temperatures rising to 77F (25C) and 79F (26C) for much of the UK. But across parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland it will turn cloudy through the day with some rain arriving by the evening.
‘Tuesday will see central parts of Wales and northern England are likely to be cloudy with spots of rain. But towards the south east it should be fine and sunny. A few showers are possible in the north west but it should be drier than Monday.
‘The rest of the week will bring cloud and rain from north and north west but further south it will be largely a clear pciture due to areas of high pressure and temperatures will peak around the middle of the week, at 79F (26C) or 80F (27C). Above average for the time of year with a good deal of sunshine.’
On Wednesday an illegal rave held in Stoney Bank Quarry, Lancashire, during the warm weather left James Bunting, 41, from Bolton, horrified by the piles of rubbish left behind by 100 or so young revellers, who he said had a ‘couldn’t care less millennial attitude’ as they spent the day inhaling ‘hippy crack’.
A mother feeds her children snacks on the beach in Bournemouth as crowds gather to enjoy the sunny Sunday bankholiday
Bournemouth beach, Dorset, south England, is filled with lots of people out sunbathing as temperatures begin to soar on Sunday
Sunbathers make the most of the hot rays as they settle down for a day on Bournemouth beach, while many people have had the same idea
A couple soak up the Sunday bank holiday rays, attempting to remain socially distanced from others as the beach fills up in Bournemouth
Families and friends are seen out and about on bank holiday weekend as some make the most of the warm weather by stripping down to their swimming costume and heading for the sea
A couple take an early morning stroll on Branksome Chine beach in Poole, Dorset, as clouds clear and temperatures begin to rise, beginning the mini heatwave expected this week
People enjoy some bank holiday exercise this morning on Branksome chine beach, Poole, Dorset, as temperatures are set to reach 79F (26C) in parts of the UK
A couple walk hand in hand on the brisk bank holiday Sunday morning as clouds clear and the sun begins to shine in Poole, Dorset
Paragliders fly over Perranporth Beach on May 24, 2020 in on the north coast of Cornwall, southern England
The Coastguard patrol on Perranporth Beach on May 24, 2020 in Perranporth, England, as lockdown measures are eased
A family don their wetsuits on Branksome beach in Poole, Dorset, as a the nation gears up for a sunny few days in lockdown
A couple pose with their dog in Poole, Dorset, as crowds begin to arrive at Branksome Chine Beach in Poole, Dorset
A mother is climbed on as she takes her daughter to the beach to build sandcastles on bank holiday Sunday amid lockdown
A family take it easy on the sandy shores of Branksome Chine beach, Poole, Dorset, on what will be a sunny Sunday for the south of England
Puppy enjoys a day out on the beach as families flock to beaches ahead of a 79F heatwave later this bank holiday weekend
Police in the Peak District warned day-trippers to stay away after the area was blighted by gridlocked traffic and lines of cars clogging the roads on the Staffordshire border with Derbyshire.
And in Torpoint, where Devon and Cornwall police have been stopping campers from staying overnight illegally at their beaches, a local jogger was filmed taking out his frustration on a visiting car by giving it several kicks.
It came as ministers fear the UK could go ‘back to square one’ in the fight against coronavirus if Britons do not adhere to lockdown rules as data suggests people have been flouting restrictions for weeks.
Londoners are seen enjoying bank holiday exercise in the sunshine at Southwark Park, South east London, this morning, ahead of a sunny day
Dogs are out for a walk in Southwark Park after two days of wet and windy weather kept many bank holiday revellers inside
Two people practice their planks in Southwark Park, London, today as temperatures are expected to reach highs of 79F in London by monday, with sunny skies expected today
Londoners photographed enjoying the sunshine at Battersea Park, west London, this morning as youngsters play football in view of police
A group of Londoners enjoy a coffee and picnic in Potters fields Park, central London, this afternoon as crowds are due to descend once again due to hot weather
A woman practices yoga in Potters fields Park, central London, as crowds begin to gather in the capital’s parks
A couple are seen taking shots in nature as they enjoy a break in Southwark Park this afternoon as clear skies bring ‘wall to wall’ sunshine
Keen tennis players practice social distancing while playing a game in Southwark Park, central London, this morning
More tennis players are seen enjoying a game in the leafy Southwark park, amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown
A couple are seen biking along the South Bank, central London, near City Hall (pictured behind), with crowds beginning to gather on the steps
People walk down a footpath towards the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
People pass a sign warning that social distancing may not be possible on the beach steps leading to the popular tourist spot Durdle Door near West Lulworth on the south coast of England on May 24, 2020
A woman prepares for some sunbathing on Branksome Chine Beach in Poole Dorset, this morning
A couple of brave swimmers take the plunge in just their swimming cosies at Chine Beach, Poole, Dorset, on Sunday morning
A couple of women wear wetsuits to enjoy an early morning splash in the sea ahead of sunny skies expected later this bank holiday weekend
Bikers exercise along the south west coast in Poole, Dorset, ahead of a what could be a busy bank holiday weekend in the tourist hot spot
A couple enjoy a warm drink from a flask on Chine beach in Poole, Dorset, where temperatures could reach around 70F today