THE SOUTH sweltered over the weekend as temperatures reached almost 32C - the hottest of the year so far.
Thousands of sun-worshippers hit Hampshire beaches and the Hamble teemed with pleasure boaters.
A spokesman for Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service said it was one of their busiest-ever weekends.
He said: "The light breeze and sunny conditions brought hundreds of people to the beach at Stokes Bay. We had to render first aid to a number of people, mostly treating minor wounds from injuries to bare feet on the stony beach."
There was traffic chaos on the M27 and M3 as sunseekers headed to the coast.
Forecasters predict that the weather is expected to cool down by the middle of the week with a risk of thunderstorms.
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