Town sizzles in recordtemperatures

The thermometer has peaked at 24C (75F) so far this month to create the warmest April known in the town.

It was so hot last Saturday when that extraordinary thermometer reading was reached that southern European hotspots such as Milan (21C), Madrid (19C), Marseille (23C) and Istanbul (14C) were left well in the shade.

The temperature enjoyed by many local residents will be even higher than the official reading from Bognor Regis Town Council's weather station. This is located close to the seafront, where the water's cooling effect on the air is evident. It is likely that the temperature even just a couple of miles inland around North Bersted was a further 2C higher.

The scorching conditions were evident as April began with a maximum temperature of 17C (63F) on the 1st. Up went the thermometer further still the next day '“ to 18.7C (65F) before Good Friday's 18.5C put Bognor on a par with Athens and hotter than Madrid.

But it was not until last Thursday that the conditions became warmer '“ and warmer. Even on Monday the temperature still reached 20.9C, or about 70F.

Those first 16 days of April were also noticeable for a complete lack of rainfall. It was blue skies most of the way, with up to 11.8 hours of sunshine, though some mornings were cloudy to keep nights warm as well.

The town's weather statistics date back to 1894 though it unlikely any year has been a more extraordinary April.

Bognor weather man Todd Sweeney said: 'We have been enjoying exceptional weather. It has to be a record breaking month if this keeps up. This is weather we are more used to having in June rather than April. It is all due to the presence of high pressure.'

Shirley Hardy, who has been trading on Bognor seafront for some 40 years, said: 'I can't remember an April like this. It has to be the best I've ever known.

'It has been really lovely along the seafront. The sunshine has really cheered people up.

'Those who have come down here on holiday really appreciate it because they thought they were just going to get typical April weather.

'They ask if it's always like this down here! Even though it wasn't a bad winter, seeing so much sun so early on has put a smile on peoples' faces.

'It's also made us quite busy. I've spoken to visitors from London who said they had left their decorating to make the most of the lovely weather.'

New Zealander Geoff Penrose, who was staying in the Bognor area last weekend at the end of a family holiday in the UK, said: 'I have been absolutely amazed by the weather. It has been fantastic.'