Britons flocked to pubs and bars this evening after yet another day of scorching weather – defying social distancing measures as they packed into clubs after a day spent in the sunshine.
Revellers were seen enjoying a drink after thousands crowded on beaches and gathered in parks with friends to soak up temperatures of 95F (35C).
Drinkers flouted social distancing rules as they took to the towns on what is the hottest weekend of the year so far.
Desperate police today turned an influx of staycationers away because of Friday’s ‘bedlam’ – as soaring mercury left officials worried about what tomorrow could bring.
Swarms of party goers were seen without face masks and defying social distancing measures as they queued outside a party hotspots.
Saturday’s top temperature was 34.5C at Frittenden in Kent, Wiggonholt in West Sussex, and Herstmonceux in East Sussex, the Met Office said.
Revellers make their way for another night of boozing on what is the hottest weekend of the year
Three women holding their phones and bags made their way to a 21st birthday celebration
A group of drinkers – clearly defying social distancing rules – gathered together to enjoy this evening’s cooler temperatures
Swarms of party goers were seen without face masks as they queued outside a nightclub in Blackpool
One woman is given a piggy back by a friend (left) as they make their way to enjoy an evening of drinking, while two women wearing stilettos cling to a lamppost in a bid to steady themselves (right)
Crowds of people defied social distancing on what is the hottest weekend of the year this evening
Tonight’s antics come as experts warn that people drinking together in pubs carry more risk of spreading the coronavirus than planes
The heat brought with it an influx of water-related tragedies as a man in his 20s drowned in a water-filled quarry, a six-year-old boy almost died after his inflatable swan was swept out to sea and men were pictured jumping into the sea at Durdle Door – an activity that critically injured two men in May.
In North Wales, described as being a scene of ‘bedlam’ yesterday, a councillor’s plea for visitors to avoid towns was ignored as the local police force reported a ‘considerable build up’ of traffic in Abersoch while drivers made their way to the beach.
Later in the day a man in his 20s drowned in a water-filled quarry at Bawsey Pits near King’s Lynn, Norfolk, after ‘getting into trouble in the water’.
Emergency services were called to the scene at about 11.30am on Saturday after the man was reported missing.
Temperatures will remain high into the 30s across the south of England on Saturday with more sunshine on Sunday before clouds roll in on Monday with the potential for storms later in the week
Daredevil swimmers leap off the rock face and into the sea at Durdle Door in Dorset on a scorching hot sunny day
Brighton beach was once again packed with sunseekers today as the heatwave that has been sweeping the UK continued
Sand could barely be seen at Bournemouth beach as thousand once again flocked to the seafront to soak up the sun
Crowds flocked to the seafront despite pleas from local authorities to stay away, after an immensely busy day yesterday
There was very little space on Margate beach on Saturday afternoon after families and sunseekers flocked to the sea
Brighton beach was packed with sunseekers this morning as revellers once again took to the sea in their droves
Elsewhere, a hero builder rushed to save the life of a six-year-old boy who was found face down and unconscious in the water after he was swept out to sea on an inflatable swan at Black Rock Sands in North Wales.
Tonight’s antics come as experts warn that people drinking together in pubs carry more risk of spreading the coronavirus than planes.
Dr Julian W Tang, honorary associate professor of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said the most common method of transmission in the UK is probably ‘conversational exposure’.
He said being in a busy pub is worse than being on an aeroplane because planes have better ventilation.
Holidaymakers and sunbathers once again flocked to the beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset today
People enjoy the hot weather on a packed Bournemouth beach in Dorset at about 3pm this afternoon
People enjoy the hot weather on the banks of the River Lea in east London, where the mercury has hit the highest since 2003
Dr Tang thinks people do not realise how safe planes actually are because of their good ventilation.
He said: ‘To be honest, on a plane the danger is from your nearest neighbours because that air is not filtered away quickly enough before you inhale it.
‘That’s the main risk on a plane.’
‘I don’t see planes as a major risk. If you ask me would I rather fly on a plane or go to a pub, I’d rather fly on a plane.’