Huge crowds flock to UK beaches for third straight day as warnings ignored again

Patrick Grafton-Green11 August 2020

Huge crowds have flocked to UK beaches for the third day in a row despite red alerts being declared on Saturday due to "unsafe crowds" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Much of Bournemouth beach was put on red alert, which occurs when authorities believe that social distancing is impossible, despite pleas from local authorities for people to stay away.

Sandbanks beach in Poole was also put on red alert, in addition to the stretches of Bournemouth beach at Alum Chine and Durley Chine.

On Sunday, images once again show packed out beaches as people soak up the scorching sunshine.

UK beaches - Sunday August 9

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Huge crowds have gathered on Bournemouth beach while lines of cars have reportedly been seen waiting to get into Camber Sands in East Sussex.

It comes after coastguards were called out to 340 incidents on Saturday, the highest number in four years.

In Anglesey, north Wales, a woman died after a jet ski collided with a boat at about 7.30pm.

In Norfolk, police recovered a body from the water at Bawsey Pits near King’s Lynn following reports of a man getting into difficulty in the water.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Thanet District Council said Ramsgate Main Sands beach in Kent was “extremely busy”, with high tide likely to make social distancing difficult.

Blackpool Police also reported its beaches being busy and it had a “larger than usual” number of children going missing.

Brits flock to beaches - Saturday August 8

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The mercury looks set to reach 35C on Sunday – with Kent, Sussex and parts of London being the most likely to see the highest temperatures, according to Met Office forecaster Craig Snell.

But the Met Office has warned that “severe thunderstorms” are likely next week.

Yellow thunderstorm warnings for all parts of the UK have been issued for Monday through to Wednesday. The warning states: “Some places are likely to see severe thunderstorms early next week – but there is significant uncertainty in location and timing.”

Dan Harris, Met Office deputy chief meteorologist, said some places are likely to be hit with up to 80mm of rain in just a few hours.

He said that “the ingredients are there” for them to strike, but “it’s just too early to pinpoint the details of exactly where and when thunderstorms will occur”.

It comes after Friday saw the hottest August day in 17 years, with the mercury hitting 36.4C at Heathrow and Kew Gardens.

Saturday’s top temperature was 34.5C – which was recorded at Frittenden in Kent, Wiggonholt in West Sussex and Herstmonceux in East Sussex, the Met Office said.

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