BOURNEMOUTH had more than half a million visitors alone during the record-breaking bank holiday weekend.

Across its town centre and beaches, Bournemouth recorded a staggering 564,000 in footfall.

The figure rose to 640,000 when combined with the number of people who visited Poole.

A total of 2,047 deckchairs were hired out during the Easter weekend along with 941 parasols and 784 sunbeds.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s seafront team also rented out 149 beach huts for the day or weekend.

Meanwhile, sunseekers tucked into 30,000 ice creams to cool off in the soaring temperatures which peaked at 25C on Saturday on what was the hottest Easter weekend for 70 years.

Car parks were full by lunchtime on most days and the resort’s land trains ran at maximum capacity, with evening trips added to meet the extra demand with the trains transporting a total of 1,900 passengers.

Twenty people were also found and reunited through the LV=KidZone child safety scheme.

Jon Weaver, head of resort marketing and events for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, said: “It’s fantastic to see people flocking here in large numbers so early in the year. We are, and have always been, a popular destination in the summer months and it’s great to be able to showcase the resort in the Easter sunshine.

He added: “With great transport links – Bournemouth is just under two hours from London by train – we hope more people will realise just how easily they can reach award-winning sandy beaches, picturesque seaside hotels and family friendly attractions.”

In February, the Daily Echo reported that Bournemouth beach had been voted in the best in Britain for the second year running in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, fighting off competition from St. Brelade’s Bay in Jersey and Woolacombe Beach in Devon.

It was also ranked the sixth best beach in Europe, coming above Elafonissi Beach in Greece and Fig Tree Bay in Protaras in Cyprus, and 20th best beach in the world coming ahead of exotic locations known for their white sand and clear waters including Australia and the Seychelles.

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