What a difference a day makes.

It was a bank holiday weekend of mixed fortunes for traders across Sussex as Sunday brought hot weather followed by downpours yesterday.

Businesses on Brighton seafront bore the brunt of the foul conditions.

Adam Chinnery, of Brighton Watersports, said: “I have gone from eight members of staff on Sunday to one today.

“Sunday was good. It was one day out of three for us so at least we had one good day. These weekends are massively important.

“They extend the weekend with lots of tourists coming down and on a day like this they are not interested in the seafront – they want shelter.”

Mr Chinnery said many cafés were closed because of the weather.

He added: “We have been spoilt so far this year. I just hope it is not the end of it.”

Nicola Wood, director of Brighton Sand Sculpture Festival, said there had been a “huge contrast” between Sunday and Monday.

“For us the weather really makes a difference, but we are an all-weather attraction and our sculptures will survive.

“We were very busy on Sunday – it was one of our busiest days.

“There haven’t been many people coming in today and those who have spent a lot of time in our café.”

Cafés along the seafront in Brighton were badly affected by yesterday’s torrential rain.

Bella Carey-Hughes, of Lucky Beach Café, said it cost more to open than stay closed during bad weather.

She said: “Sunday was very busy. When it was sunny we were fully packed out. We didn’t even bother with our beach-side seating yesterday because of the rain.”

It was wet and windy in Worthing for its annual carnival with people braving the elements in costumes.

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic at Borde Hill Gardens for Chestnut Tree House Hospice forged ahead as planned with the help of a marquee tent.

The weather became too much in Seaford, though, where the Seaford Donkey Derby was cancelled, according to Newhaven National Coastwatch Institution.