Bexhill's best summer for 10 years!

The Tourist Information Centre confirmed beds are fully booked and seafront cafes report a roaring trade.

Temperatures hit 29.2C (85F) on Tuesday. But the incredible heat has made some tourists turn around and go home. Dutch visitors to the Cobbs Hill Farm caravan and camping park in Watermill Lane left after finding Bexhill too hot to handle.

Owner Lynne Claxton said: "The Dutch often go on to Cornwall from here but these people said they were just going home because they couldn't stand the heat."

Cobbs Hill Farm is always busy during school holidays but this week even more tents have been pitched than usual.

"We are more or less full. There are hundreds of children running about," said Lynne.

Health services have been fully stretched to cope with heat-related problems.

Patrick Meyer is Coastal Control Officer for Bexhill. He said: "It is the busiest I have seen it for the last ten years. The last three days have been really, really busy."

Sales of inflatables and water toys have left suppliers running low of stock.

Kay Attwood owns Buxtons Kiosk on the promenade. She said: "We are on the last lot of body boards and the factory has run out."

Apart from ice-creams and water, sales of tea and coffee have kept staff busy. The heatwave has even meant longer opening hours.

"The last week it has been absolutely manic. We have been open until 9pm some nights when we would normally shut at about 6pm. But families are just coming down about then."

Staff at the Colonnade Cafe have been equally rushed off their feet. Owner Graham Smith has put on extra staff at the recently refurbished cafe.

"We had record takings last weekend and week day takings over the past four days have been equal to weekend takings.

"If it keeps up it could be one of the best summers Bexhill has ever had."