Thousands of day trippers flocked to sizzling Sussex to soak up the glorious weekend sunshine.

Tourists packed Brighton beach on Saturday as temperatures across the county soared to 25C.

Swimmers dived into the waves to cool off while sun worshippers packed out seafront restaurants and bars.

Italian seafront restaurant Alfresco even had to close for an hour from 5pm to give its kitchen time to prepare more dishes.

Owner Gauseppe Colasurdo said: "It's the first time this year we've had real signs of summer.

"It was the first time this year I've seen topless people on the beach, so it must have been hot.

"It was our best day so far for business. I hope there will be a few more weekends like this."

Julie-Anne Gilburt, 33, of the JAG gallery/open studio on Madeira Drive, Brighton, went for a swim in the sea after work for the first time in four years.

She said: "We went on holiday mode and sat outside the gallery in deckchairs drinking chilled rose wine.

"The sunshine puts everyone in a good mood and then people are more likely to buy paintings.

"I was unprepared for how hot it was going to get but it was a nice surprise.

"I cycled into work for the first time in a year and then after work I went swimming in my knickers."

The sunshine came just one day after engineering work was finally completed on two of Brighton and Hove's busiest roads.

Traffic cones and barriers were lifted on Friday night after weeks of mayhem and jams in West Street and Kings Road caused by overdue mains replacement work by Southern Gas Networks.

There had been a hail of protest from drivers, traders and business leaders as the works overran by more than three weeks.

Colin Burt, owner of The Rock Shop in Kings Road, was one of the many traders celebrating the sunshine's perfect timing. He said: "The sunshine is bringing people down to the seafront.

"Brighton is heaving again and the beach is packed."

Forecasters say the sunny spell is expected to last well into this week.

The good weather has come as a welcome contrast for many people to the relentless drizzle of the past few weeks.

Forecasters predict temperatures could even rise further by the middle of the week. Gareth Harvey, of the PA Weather Centre, said: "It's going to be quite a stable week by the look of it with high pressure sitting right over the UK.

"It's going to be really quite good weather right into the week.

"It looks like being a good start to June.

"It's possible we could get temperatures up to 27 and 28 degrees."