The sun has been blazing down for the past four days with temperatures shattering the seasonal average.

Thousands of visitors have flocked to the coast to enjoy the Easter weather.

Louise Acford donned her shades and sun hat for a round-up of the mini-heatwave.

Unseasonably warm weather and a long bank holiday weekend led to beaches being packed with people wishing to soak up the rays.

Temperatures soared to 18C (64F) today and on Easter Sunday - a whopping five degrees higher than the seasonal average.

Forecasters are predicting the warm weather will continue until the end of the week and some have warned it could even go as high as 23C (73F).

Vicky Miller, a seafront officer in Brighton, said: "Traders are very happy because it's been very warm all the cafes and shops are buzzing.

"It's been lovely. There haven't been any problems. It's been a calm and relaxed atmosphere."

She said 150,000 visitors a day had hit Brighton and Hove, keen to soak up the early April sunshine.

Ms Miller said: "To have four days of solid sunshine has been great for the seafront and great for the traders."

In Worthing, Good Friday and Saturday saw the biggest turn-out.

The seafront had the added attraction of a continental market and many town centre stores stayed open over all four days.

Tim Smalley, a beach inspector, said: "We had no problems over the weekend. The lido was full and I think the ice cream sellers did very well.

"It was a bit quieter on Sunday but on Monday there were plenty down on the beach again. No one was brave enough to go for a swim though.

"It's such a change from last Easter when it rained solidly. We have had four days of cracking weather which is set to stay until Friday."

Giuseppe Colasurdo, manager of Brighton seafront restaurant Al Fresco, said he had run out of food on Saturday and Sunday because of the high number of customers over the weekend.

He said: "I had to make emergency trips to the cash and carry and our suppliers.

"It was unbelievably busy. We served about 400 people each day.

"The weather is almost 80 per cent of our business. It's been very good."

Many sun worshippers took to the water on jet skis, boats and some brave souls took a dip in the sea.

One intrepid swimmer, Dan Evans of Brighton, said: "I normally don't go in until later in the year but couldn't resist taking a dip. It was cold so I wasn't in long but it was worth it."

Coastguards reported a quiet weekend with many people choosing to stick to the land.

A spokesman for Solent Coastguard said: "We did get a call from a diver who was feeling unwell after emerging from the water off Beachy Head.

"We sent an ambulance to meet him and give him oxygen but he wasn't in a serious condition. We have to take precautions because people can suffer from the bends."

The incident took place on Monday (April 9) lunchtime at about 12.30pm.

The lure of the beach didn't appear to effect businesses away from the promenades.

Shops reported healthy till receipts as people dashed out to by sun clothes and last minute Easter gifts.

In Eastbourne, the Arndale Centre did flourishing trade despite the hot weather.

Duty security manager, Mike Harvey, said: "We were closed on Easter Sunday but the other days did pretty well. It was unusually busy for a bank holiday.

"There have been a lot of people about and everything is going well."

Easter bank holiday weekend is traditionally the start of the DIY and barbecue season. Usually it involves battling gale-force winds and rain to get the barbecue lit and hoping for a break in the cloud while bangers and burgers are hastily cooked.

A spokesman for Homebase in Crawley said sales were up on last year.

He said: "It's been very busy and there has been a definite increase on Easter last year.

"Due to the fine weather sales of garden furniture and barbecues have been particularly good."

There's no need to pack those barbecues and sun loungers away in a hurry. The April showers look set to hold off and the warm weather is set to stay with temperatures predicted to creep into the twenties next weekend.

Forecaster Brendan Jones said temperatures could possibly reach 23C (73F).

He said: "We're keeping the warm and fairly sunny weather right through until Friday, though there may be a few showers by the time we get to Friday and the weekend.

"Right through the week the highs are looking on the warm side, and in the south of the UK it will be close to 19 to 20C (66 to 68F) every day.

"It will be up to 22 to 23C (71.5 to 73) by Friday and Saturday, which is 9C (48F) above the average for this time of year."

Despite the many visitors flocking to the beaches and shops, roads were relatively quiet.

The A23, A24 and A27 had no major problems and, according to the Highways Agency, the bank holiday was quieter than many normal weekends.

A spokeswoman for the agency said: "Friday was like a normal day. It wasn't particularly busy. People appear to have staggered their journeys.

"Saturday was especially quiet, in fact it was, quieter than a normal Saturday."

She said the agency was expecting traffic to have been busy yesterday evening as holiday makers made their way home following the Easter break.

Sussex Police said there had been no serious road accidents.

Did you have fun in the sun this Easter? Email your amusing pictures or videos to videos@theargus.co.uk and leave your comments below.