It was meant to be a record-breaking scorcher, but thanks to a chilly sea mist it took dedication to spend yesterday on the beach.

Thousands piled on to the shore at Brighton hoping for more tropical sunshine as the Met Office warned of soaring temperatures.

But they and others who packed up their gear for a day at the beach in Eastbourne, Worthing, Seaford and Newhaven were left a little on the chilly side as the sea fret rolled in and the breeze began to pick up.

In Brighton, the fog descended over the beach at about noon, smothering the sun with a thick cloud and causing temperatures to drop.

Sarah Lee-Falcon, of Moulsecoomb, was on the beach with her children Sophie and Stuart, both ten.

She said: "It was beautiful in Moulsecoomb this morning, really sunny, so we thought we'd come down to the beach to cool off and do some sunbathing.

"We couldn't believe it when we arrived at about 12.30pm and it was foggy. It was very disappointing. The kids have been in the sea but I couldn't, it was too cold."

Like many others, she had to wrap herself in her towel to keep warm.

She said: "I've been wearing this towel all afternoon and I'll keep it on for the rest of the day unless it gets any warmer."

While the mist hung over the coastline, much of inland Sussex basked in the promised rays.

Glen Laishley had travelled from Surrey in search of the sun.

Mr Laishley, in Brighton with daughters Georgia, six, and Isabel, nine, said: "It was blazing sun for most of the journey, we were sweltering in the car.

"When we got here we were a bit disappointed. "

Mr Laishley said it had taken about half an hour to drive from his home to the outskirts of Brighton but they got stuck in traffic for about two hours, trying to get near the beach.

The mist made it so dark on the seafront by 2pm, the streetlights came on.

For many it was a case of making the best of a bad situation as they braved the waves for a swim.

Among them were Margo Ozerov and Ludmila Podsolka, from Moscow, who were not put off by the lack of warmth.

Ms Podsolka said: "It felt really warm, not what I was expecting. I enjoyed it more than any swim I've ever had in the sea in England.

"It is a shame it is not a sunny day but you can always wrap up once you get out of the sea."

Others were pleased of a respite from Tuesday's heat, when Gatwick was the hottest spot in mainland Britain at 33C (91F) and sunbathers sizzled on Brighton beach.

Lauren Mulcahy, of Queen's Park Road, Brighton, said: "I would have liked to have seen the sun today but I'm glad it's cooled down a bit, yesterday was too hot. At least there's a breeze and it's a bit more refreshing."

Ms Mulcahy, 25, was on the beach with friends Kurt Valentine, 24, and Jody Hogg, 25, who travelled down from London expecting a day of tanning.

They said they had been in the sea and found it almost the same temperature as the beach. The unexpected fog was also good for business.

Many of the bars and restaurants near the beach were busy, with people walking around or having leisurely lunches.

Alan Hayes, who runs a seafood stall by King's Road Arches, said: "The switch in weather has done traders along the seafront a lot of good.

"We've been really busy today. A lot of customers have commented on how nice it is to have a bit of cooler weather. We're a funny bunch, aren't we? We crave sun all year and when it comes we don't want it.

"There wasn't a deckchair left yesterday but people were just sitting, it was too hot to do anything, especially eat. Today is better as people are up and about and in good humour."

By mid afternoon in Worthing, the mist was gathering and the wind was picking up - but plenty of people still turned out on the beach in anticipation of the predicted heatwave.

Giulio Cesale Faltoni, 17, from Italy, was keeping cool eating ice-cream and going for frequent dips in the sea.

He said: "The weather has been great. I've heard it's even hotter back home in Italy but I am enjoying the sun a lot."

Grandmother Gloria Sheriff, from Guildford, was enjoying the sunshine with her two grandchildren, Aidan, four, and Holly, two.

She said: "We've put our tent up so the children can keep cool. We've been having a lovely day with them looking for crabs in the sea."

George Molloy, owner of Molloy's Rock Shop, said he had been doing a great trade for the past few days.

He said: "I hope the hot weather lasts as long as possible. It puts everyone in a good mood and everyone seems to enjoy life more."

Peter and Camino Howes, who are both retired, travelled from Reigate for a day beside the sea.

Camino said: "We came to the sea because we thought it was going to be the hottest day of the year but nobody seems to have told the weather in Worthing that."

It was a similar story in Eastbourne, where the beaches were surprisingly quiet, with school children and families the main visitors and a handful of workers enjoying a lunch break in the sun.

Those seeking to keep out of the rays pitched deck chairs underneath the shade of the bandstand, facing out to sea.

Friends Pat Buttle, Ethel Baldock, Jean Lucas and Alice Jarman, from Sittingbourne, were in town for the day after booking themselves on a coach.

Mrs Buttle said: "We really love Eastbourne, it's one of our favourite places because it's so flat."

Elsewhere along the coast beaches were all but empty as a thick fog rolled in from the sea in Seaford and Newhaven.