By lunchtime yesterday Brighton beach was packed with people making the most of the fine weather.

Seafront office spokesman Mark Hedger, 24, said: "The restaurants down here are packed. There is no room left at any of the tables outside."

Extra volunteers were drafted in to help at the Volk's Railway on Brighton seafront after it was inundated with passengers.

Manager Stuart Strong said: "With the boat show in the Marina this weekend, holidaymakers want to make the most of the fine weather so we are laying on an extra service."

Brighton's Donatello restaurant was packed from the moment it opened.

Spokeswoman Sue Addis said: "All our outside tables are taken and people are sitting out there in their T-shirts."

Worthing was not quite as packed as Brighton but Macari's ice cream parlour, South Street, reported thriving business.

The county's roads were surprisingly clear, with no traffic jams reported on the routes into Sussex by AA Roadwatch.

AA spokeswoman Rebecca Rees said: "The roads have been busy around Gatwick Airport, but other than that there have been no problems.

"I think people are used to it now and assume traffic at Easter will be bad, so they either get away early or don't bother at all."

The crowds were boosted by the estimated 11,000 people attending the National Union of Teachers conference at the Brighton Centre.

But weathermen say the sunny spell is unlikely to last all weekend.

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