After a very Good Friday and a chilly Saturday, Easter crowds returned to Brighton beach yesterday.

Seafront bars enjoyed brisk trade as visitors soaked up the sun.

A cooling breeze kept most people out of the water, unlike Friday's scorching 25C which made the resort feel like the Mediterranean.

Not many stayed in the city.

Roger Marlowe, chairman of Brighton and Hove Hotels Association, said: "Normally we are overwhelmed with demand but that has not been the case this Easter. In Charlotte Street and the New Steine there were vacancy signs and that's something you don't usually see."

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "Traditionally, it's not often fine for all four days of the Easter break.

"Records show that, time and time again, a fine start to the long weekend will go downhill.

"Easter weather can vary a great deal - in fact, it is more likely to snow at Easter than it is at Christmas."

Fine weather was again forecast for today.

Monday April 21 2003