THOUSANDS of people flocked to the seafront yesterday amid a scorching heatwave that saw the city bathed in sunshine.

Just days before coronavirus restrictions imposed on the nation are lifted, people from across the city flocked to the seafront on Friday.

Temperatures in Brighton and Hove reached 25C, with the met office issuing a level two "heat-health alert" covering most of England until Tuesday.

Pictures taken from Brighton seafront showed large crowds gathering on the beach enjoying the sunshine, while thousands walked the coastline.

Others took the opportunity to catch a tan by sunbathing on deck chairs, while others braved the water to cool off.

Ahead of the weekend of sun, Dr Owen Landeg, scientific and technical lead at Public Health England, said: “Much of the advice on beating the heat is common sense and for many people spells of warmer weather are something they very much enjoy.

“However, for some people, such as older people, those with underlying health conditions and young children, the summer heat can bring real health risks.

“It’s also worth remembering the practical steps to keep homes cool during the day as this can aid sleeping at night and give the body time to recover from the heat."

On Monday, the lifting of restrictions will go ahead, with mask wearing becoming voluntary in many settings and nightclubs returning.

Social distancing will be scrapped, meaning the omnipresent two-metre warning signs can be taken down.