Traders enjoyed a bumper weekend as thousands of people flocked to the seafront to enjoy the record-breaking weather.

Many businesses in Brighton hailed this bank holiday weekend as their busiest period all year.

Thousands of residents, daytrippers and tourists enjoyed the seafront as the mercury hit 24C at its highest in the city yesterday.

It was the hottest May Bank Holiday recorded.

Mark Brady, owner of The World Famous Pump Room, in King’s Road Arches, said there were long queues for his mint chocolate chip and blue bubblegum ice creams, and fresh orange juice.

He said: “It has been massively busy this weekend and Sunday was probably my best day in the 15 years I’ve been on the beach. The weather has been really amazing and could not be any better.”

Neil Sykes, owner of the Mod Cafe in Madeira Drive and secretary of the Brighton Seafront Traders’ Association, said: “It feels like it has been a record breaking weekend – and that’s the whole seafront.”

But he added there would be even more trade in the area if parking charges were not as high.

Also busy was seafront operations manager Chris Ingall and his team, who ensure the safety of those on the beach. He said: “We have been extremely busy, we deal with everything that comes up on the seafront.

“But it has been a fantastic success. The traders are happy and the beach users are happy.”