Swimmers are being warned to avoid nearly 20 beaches in England after they were rated as having poor water quality. The warnings come as the country experiences a Saharan heatwave, with temperatures expected to reach almost 40°C.
Bournemouth Council's Beach Check app showed red for 20 of 24 beaches, indicating that social distancing was not possible due to overcrowding. Car parks in Bournemouth, Camber Sands, and Sandbanks were full and turning people away.
Thanet Council in Kent warned on Twitter that beaches in Broadstairs and Margate were extremely busy, making social distancing difficult. The Coastguard reported around 70 call-outs by midday, above average for this time of year.
Matt Leat, head of infrastructure and technology at HM Coastguard, said this weekend could see a similar number of call-outs as families take advantage of the heatwave. He urged the public not to use inflatables at the beach and to check the tide to stay safe.
The Met Office has warned that after a slightly cooler week, people could underestimate the heat, which could cause dehydration and sunburn, especially among the most vulnerable.
