Sussex swelters as heatwave draws crowds to coast

Crowds have been flocking to beaches in Sussex as a heatwave brings the highest temperatures of the year so far - well above the average for May.

The record for May has been broken for the second day in a row, with 35C recorded at Heathrow earlier, according to the Met Office.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat-health alert for the South East, which is expected to remain in place until 17:00 BST on Wednesday.

Across East and West Sussex, the heat has put pressure on some local services, with water supply issues in Eastbourne, and emergency crews called to a fatal medical incident on a Hastings beach.

Amid the bank holiday weekend heat, a burst water main left about 500 of its customers without supply in homes in Sussex and Kent, including Eastbourne.

South East Water (SEW) apologised and said repairs had been completed in the Hampden Park and Ratton areas, and supplies restored.

It said any temporary discolouration was "not harmful".

Repairs have also been carried out on a burst water main in the Decoy Drive area of Eastbourne, where water was said to be returning to 168 properties.

SEW incident manager Steve Benton said: "We know water supply issues during hot weather are deeply frustrating and incredibly inconvenient, and we are working as quickly and safely as possible to resolve them.

"As a result of the recent hot weather, we're seeing increased demand across our network and we're having to pump far more drinking water than usual."

Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde said it was "appalling" that homes were without water, adding that delays had been caused by the need to access private land.

Emergency services were also called to a medical incident on a busy beach in St Leonards on Sunday, where a man later died.

Sussex Police said: "Sadly, despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man was declared deceased at the scene.

"His next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

Bexhill Coastguard said it had responded to five incidents in three days and urged visitors to take care as warm weather continued into half term.

It also advised people to check tide times, avoid using inflatables in offshore winds, and to call 999 and ask for the coastguard in an emergency.

Meanwhile, a Brighton beach patrol volunteer has called for more funding to allow them to widen their remit and help more people on the seafront.

The funding call came after three sisters died in the sea off the coast of Brighton after entering the water on 13 May.

Sussex Police, the beach patrol and partners, increased their presence over the bank holiday weekend in an effort to step up safety measures during the summer months.

Sussex Police also confirmed a teenage boy was stabbed on Brighton seafront next to a crowded beach on bank holiday Monday.

The Met Office said high pressure had allowed exceptional heat to build across the UK, with temperatures expected to remain in the high 20s and low 30s for much of the week.

Dr Anya Gopfert, consultant in health protection at UKHSA, said even moderate heat could lead to health problems for older people and those with health conditions, urging everyone to take "simple precautions".

A Met Office study has also found climate change has made breaking May temperature records around three times more likely.

It said that what was once a one-in-100 year event was now a one-in-33 year occurrence, with average May temperatures rising over recent decades.

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