Women sunbathing on Brighton beach have been voted the most beautiful in Britain.

As Sussex braces itself for a sweltering weekend, temperatures are rising on the seafront for an entirely different reason.

Research out today shows the British public thinks Brighton has the most attractive women of any beach in the UK.

In a survey of 1,000 people, the highest proportion - 34 per cent - said the resort would be the best place to look for stunners in skimpy bikinis.

Torquay in Devon came second with 32 per cent and Blackpool was voted the beach with the ugliest women.

A spokesman for health crisps Snack a Jacks, which commissioned the survey, said: "We are used to rating our beaches for their cleanliness, but what about the state of the people sharing the sand?

"While Blackpool bathers should reach for their kaftans, Brighton beachgoers can don their bikinis with confidence."

As the temperature broke through the 24C (75F) mark yesterday, bikini bathers on the beach backed the findings of the survey.

Christy Nicholls, 25, originally from California but living in Brighton, said: "I've been to a few beaches in Britain and I would definitely say the survey is fair. I think a lot more beautiful people are likely to come down to Brighton than other beaches because of the atmosphere.

"People are also a lot more likely to strip down to their bikinis here than where I come from but they are also more concerned with the body beautiful in California."

Sara Turner, 18, also from Brighton, said: "It doesn't surprise me at all. I do agree there is an impression women on beaches down here are better looking than in the North."

Some sunbathers questioned by The Argus said the survey, which involved telephone interviews with men and women across Britain, could give the false impression women in Brighton were better looking than women from elsewhere.

Many of the beach's most beautiful women are, after all, tourists from around the world.

Polish Joanna Stanin, 21, who was sunbathing with Agata Bartoszek, 19, said: "The reason you have so many beautiful women on the beach is because so many of them are Polish.

"I have seen so many today. We come to Brighton because it is such a nice place."

Sunseekers can look forward to temperatures exceeding 28C (82.4F) as the summer heat steps up a gear on Saturday.

Earlier this month a wandering polar jetstream brought cold, wind, rain and storms to most of the UK. But a ridge of high pressure coming up from the Azores means Sussex is now in for several days of good weather.

Brighton and Hove is expected to be among the hottest places in the UK by Monday, peaking at 32C (90F).

Paul Knightley, of the Press Association Weather Centre, said: "We could be facing something of a heatwave. For much of the summer we have been influenced by weather off the Atlantic and have been in the firing line of storms. But there is a shift now and we are becoming part of what is known as the Azores High.

"Bits break off and come towards Britain. They will roll over and park over us very nicely, bringing much warmer temperatures."

Brief thunderstorms may come and go during next week but the sun is set to stay until next Thursday.