IS IT Bournemouth – or California?

Yesterday, as the town basked in temperatures normally found in mid-May, it was hard to tell as more than 30 surfers took to the pristine waves on the beach that's just been voted Britain's best for the second year running.

Bournemouth Echo:

Picture: Stephen Bath

Bournemouth fought off strong competition from the likes of Rhossili Bay in Wales, Perranporth in Cornwall and St. Brelade’s Bay in Jersey to hold its the number one spot in the annual UK TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards.

Bournemouth Echo:

But it also beat the fabled Elafonissi Beach in Greece and Fig Tree Bay, Protaras, Cyprus into the top ten of Euro beaches and made it into the World's Top 20 beaches too.

Surfer Louis Findlater praised Bournemouth as perfect: "It's got everything you'd want; clean water, beautiful sands, waves and some great bars and cafes," he said.

His friend agreed. "You could think you were in California on a day like this - sun, warm, waves, I've never seen a season like it."

Bournemouth Echo:

Mum Gemma Harris of Kinson was there with daughter Jessica, aged 9, and Oliver, 2.

"It's easy to get to on the bus and beautiful and clean and safe to play on," she said. "I can see why it's been voted the best beach."

Bournemouth Echo:

Picture: Stephen Bath

Mum Liz Pollard and her daughter, Katie, were visiting from Southampton.

"We don't really have much of a beach there and because we knew it would be warm today we came here - it's always beautiful," she said.

Bournemouth Echo:

Jessica Harris, nine, enjoys Bournemouth's award-winning beach

Councillor Pat Oakley, portfolio holder for tourism in Bournemouth, said: "We value our beautiful, attractive yet fragile environment and are resolute in our commitment to both developing and protecting what makes Bournemouth such a great place to visit, live, work and study."

He said tourism contributed £1 billion to the local economy.

Bournemouth Echo:

"The popularity of Bournemouth’s beaches translates into visitor spend that is invested back into the town. We’re extremely proud of this achievement," he added.

Travellers’ Choice Beaches award-winners were based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor gathered over a 12-month period.