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Pictures show Weston-super-Mare on hottest day of the year during lockdown

Not everyone was happy about this, though

Sunbathers enjoy the hot weather at Weston-super-Mare, as people flock to parks and beaches with lockdown measures eased

Photographs have emerged of people enjoying the sunshine in Weston-super-Mare on the hottest day of the year.

People have flocked to beaches across the UK as temperatures rocket amid the recently-relaxed lockdown rules - and it was no different at the Somerset seaside town yesterday (May 20).

However, anger and frustration have been expressed by residents and Weston-super-Mare's tourism board as visitors flocked to what became an "incredibly busy" beach.

A spokeswoman for Don't Visit Weston, the town's temporarily renamed tourism board, said: "We understand it's a difficult set of circumstances for potential visitors to navigate, and with the weather being as glorious as it is, it's very tempting to want to come and enjoy our fresh air and escape from home.

"However, the feeling from us, as residents, and the message from North Somerset Council is still very much, don't visit Weston - at least not yet.

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"The few facilities which have been reopened were for the benefit of Weston residents living inland, that prior to the lessening of restrictions wouldn't have had the opportunity to visit our beaches.

"They have not been reopened as a way to encourage visitors from outside of the area."

Police have asked people not to 'rush' to visit beauty spots as the total coronavirus-related deaths across Somerset now stand at 128, with 1,213 people testing positive for Covid-19 in the county.

Yesterday, temperatures in Somerset hit the 25°C mark and the Met Office recorded a temperature of 27.8°C at Heathrow just after 2pm.

This, and the 26.2C reached at London’s St James’s Park, beat 2020's previous top temperature of 26°C set last month.