RECORD-BREAKING temperatures for this time of year have seen crowds flock to the beach to soak up the sun.

A scorching temperature of 28c (82f) was recorded on the golden sands of Weymouth beach in the early afternoon as beachgoers took advantage of a blazing Indian summer – the hottest for this late in the summer season in more than 100 years.

The last time the UK saw temperatures as high as they are now at this time of year was in 1895, the year of the first moving picture.

Temperatures have trumped those in Mexico, Turkey and the Costa del Sol.

Forecasters are predicting more warm weather this weekend with today set to become the warmest day ever for October.

Weymouth traders took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather with many extending their stay on the beach at a time of year when trading traditionally grinds to a halt.

Trader Daren Deadman, who has worked on the beach for 22 years, said: “I don’t remember anything like this in all the time I’ve been working on the beach.

“We’re just starting October and I’ve never seen anything this before – they’re saying it’s going to go up to 30c.

“This is the first time I have ever known it to be like this.”

Claire Deadman, who runs the Boat Cafe with her husband Daren, said customers have been making the most of the blistering temperatures.

She said: “Someone told me it was like being on the beach in Sydney and others have told us it’s just like being in the south of France.”

Melanie Rush, who runs the donkey rides attraction, said: “I used to run the trampolines and we wouldn’t normally be here this late in the year but the trampolines are still there.

“We would have normally packed up by now. The weather is a bit of a bonus and it definitely makes my job easier and more pleasant when I’m standing around.”

Holiday parks in the area have reported an upturn in visitors making last minute bookings and capitalising on the balmy temperatures.

Tim Gibson, from Haven Holidays, said the Seaview, Weymouth Bay and Littlesea parks have seen a 10 per cent increase in visitors.

He added: “We’ve seen a 30 per cent increase in visitors to our website and call centres looking for last-minute availability since this weekend’s hot weather was forecast.

“As soon as this weekend’s heat wave was announced, visitor figures to our website shot up and when customers found very little availability for this weekend online they got straight on the phones to try to secure themselves a break at one of our parks to enjoy the sunshine this weekend.”

Karen Kennedy, from Bagwell Farm Touring Park in Chickerell, said she has taken a lot of last-minute bookings at the touring park.

She added: “Although we are open all year round we’ve seen bookings from more people who aren’t so hardy and seem to prefer camping in weather like this.

“People are really taking advantage of the weather. We haven’t got as many people as we normally would in August but the levels are very good for this time of year.”

A spokesman for the Sou’ West Lodge in Rodwell Road, Weymouth, said bookings have doubled since the heatwave was forecast for this weekend.

He added: “Originally we had four rooms booked for this weekend and now we are full up.

“This time of year can be quite funny because sometimes we’re quite busy and sometimes we’re not.

“This is good news for the industry.”