Thousands of tourists are expected in Sussex over the weekend as the great Easter Bank Holiday getaway begins in glorious sunshine.

Sun seekers basked under blue skies on Brighton beach, while parks across the city were packed with families yesterday.

The warm temperatures are expected to continue over the weekend, with experts predicting highs of 20C - beating the likes of traditional hot spots Corfu and the Costa del Sol.

The influx of day-trippers is expected to provide businesses in the city with a multi-million pound boost as the weekend marked the opening of the main holiday season.

However some of the main routes into the city were gridlocked and experts warned travel chaos could continue.

Council chiefs yesterday urged people to use public transport wherever possible as the roads are expected to clog up with cars and exasperated motorists over the weekend.

For those planning longer journeys, the AA has warned that 70 per cent of drivers fail to make basic checks on their cars before a trip. The motoring organisation says most drivers lack the knowledge to perform simple tasks like oil and water checks.

A spokesman warned motorists not to set out without drinking water, a charged mobile phone and full tank of petrol.

Meanwhile thousands of Sussex holiday makers are escaping the busy roads by heading off to warmer climes. Airport operator BAA said it was also expecting 600,000 people to travel from Gatwick between Thursday and Tuesday.

A water firm with roadworks across Brighton and Hove has backed calls urging people to stick to public transport over the Easter weekend. S outhern Water asked motorists to leave their cars at home rather than trying to drive in the centre of Brighton.

North Street is closed in one direction and traffic is being diverted up West Street while the company replaces the Victorian pipe system. Southern Water is replacing 57km of water pipes across Brighton and Hove, at a cost of £15.5 million.

Diversions are expected to continue for 31 weeks. Southern Water's contractors are working Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Bob Lennard, special projects manager for Southern Water, said: "Due to the nature of the works there will be some disruption which unfortunately is unavoidable.

However, we are working with Brighton and Hove City Council's highways department and other utilities carrying out works in the area to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum."

Alan McCarthy, Brighton and Hove City Council's chief executive, said:"The North Street works are progressing well and are ahead of schedule. However as always we'd encourage people to leave their cars at home and use public transport to visit Brighton and Hove if they possibly can."

Much of the city's water network is between 120 and 150 years old. The three-year project to replace the old metal pipes with plastic ones began in June 2006 and will finish by the end of December 2009.