THOUSANDS descended on Brighton beach yesterday to soak up the sun on one of the hottest day of the year so far.

Temperatures hit 31C as the tempting combination of blue skies and blistering heat drew large numbers to the seafront.

Some took to the water to cool off while others preferred to sunbathe on the pebbles or walk along the promenade, with seafront businesses doing a roaring trade.

The Argus:

Long and, for the most part, distanced queues formed outside ice cream parlours as punters waited their turn to approach a perspex screen and place their order.

But there were also options for those with alternative tastes.

Jennifer Vidas, who works on the fresh fruit stand near Palace Pier, said yesterday and the day before were the business’s busiest days of trading since it reopened about two months ago.

The Argus:

Water melon had proved to be a firm favourite among customers, she added.

The 19-year-old said: “It’s definitely been busy. I think people are in a good mood with the weather being so hot.

“But I feel quite safe, though not many customers wear masks.

The Argus:

“We use a mask and gloves and have a protective screen as well.”

But some people took unnecessary risks during the day.

A group of people chose to dive headfirst from the Albion Groyne into the shallow water below, performing flips and risky manoeuvres as a crowd watched from the stone structure.

A previous warning from the Coastguard said: “We cannot over emphasise how dangerous it can be to, quite literally, jump into the unknown.”