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Thousands leapt at the chance to dust off their deckchairs and head for the seaside as temperatures reached 30C in parts of the UK on Saturday, hotter than parts of the Costa del Sol.

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Thousands flocked to Brighton, where many towels hit the beach before 1000 BST. Others took the chance to catch up on some reading at Eastbourne.

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The temperature proved too much for some. Martin Shields needed to take time out from his stag weekend in Richmond to cool down.

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While at the last day of the races of Royal Ascot in York, some resorted to more traditional methods of combating heat and thirst.

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The mercury is forecast to hit 32C on Sunday, which forecasters say would make parts of England hotter than the Caribbean.

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The glorious weather prompted bookmakers Ladbrokes to cut the odds of temperatures breaking 100F (37.8C) this year from 6-1 to 5-1.

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The capital saw the best of the sunshine and London's parks were packed with sun worshippers.