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UK beaches on red alert after 'unsafe' crowds gather to enjoy 30C heatwave

People enjoy the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset: PA
People enjoy the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset: PA

Red alerts have been declared on UK beaches after "unsafe" crowds gathered to enjoy 30C weather.

A red alert occurs when authorities believe that social distancing is impossible.

Much of Bournemouth beach was put on red alert despite pleas from local authorities for tourists to stay away, Somerset Live reports.

While some stretches of the beach are on orange alert, members of the public are being told to avoid it entirely.

Parts of the UK could see record-breaking overnight temperatures this weekend as the mini heatwave continues (PA)
Parts of the UK could see record-breaking overnight temperatures this weekend as the mini heatwave continues (PA)

Pictures show huge crowds of sunbathers and swimmers.

The Sandbanks beach in Poole, as well as the stretches of Bournemouth beach at Alum Chine and Durley Chine were also put on red alert.

It come as Britons enjoy a scorching Saturday as temperatures surged once again.

The Met Office said temperatures had already reached 34.5C at Frittenden in Kent early on Saturday afternoon, with a chance the mercury could rise as high as 36C in the South East later in the day.

London and the South East have endured sweltering heat over the past few days, with no let-up expected until the middle of next week.

Cars queue up as they head down towards the sea front at Bournemouth beach (PA)
Cars queue up as they head down towards the sea front at Bournemouth beach (PA)

The record for the hottest August day is 38.5C, set at Faversham on August 10 2003.

The current record maximum temperature for the UK is 38.7C, reached in Cambridge Botanic Garden on July 25 last year.

Friday saw crowds of people heading for the coast, with images of packed beaches, traffic jams and full car parks shared widely on social media.

By Friday afternoon, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s beach check app showed 19 of its 24 beaches under red alert, warning people to avoid the areas because safe social distancing was not possible.