HUNDREDS of thousands of people poured into Dorset to make the most of sizzling Bank Holiday weekend temperatures.

Car parks and beaches were packed and businesses enjoyed a boost to trade with long queues throughout the weekend for ice creams, fish and chips and cold drinks.

On Saturday alone in Bournemouth more than 200 beach hut bookings were made, 934 deckchairs were rented out and 735 passengers were carried on the land trains.

Seafront staff also rented 472 parasols and 452 sunbeds and the new Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf at Pier Approach welcomed 340 visitors.

The Undercliff car park between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers was full by 11.30am and hundreds of children enjoyed the water play area at Pier Approach.

Despite the high numbers of visitors, council staff did their best to keep the town clean and tidy.

Evening litter pick crews worked on the seafront until 10pm each night.

Temperatures soared to 25C and are due to remain high today and tomorrow.

The weather is expected to return to average for the time of year at around 21C with drizzle forecast for Wednesday and sunny spells for the rest of the week.

Andrew Brown, Seafront Operations Manager for BCP Tourism, said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend on the seafront. Temperatures have been even higher than expected so of course, people have been out enjoying our award-winning beaches.

“With a busy team working to keep families safe - through the LV= Kidzone scheme - and our Leave Only Footprints campaign aimed at encouraging beach-goers to clear up after themselves, it’s easy to see why Bournemouth has been named by TripAdvisor as the UK’s best beach for two years in a row. “

But we’re proud of much more than just our miles of golden sand.

“With watersports on offer in Poole Harbour, a prom peppered with family attractions, including the brand new Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf and a breathtaking nature reserve at Hengistbury Head marking the gateway to Christchurch and beyond - where there’s everything from castles to forest trails - we really are becoming firmly established as the coast with the most.

“Bournemouth has once again been nominated as the UK’s Best Seaside Resort in this year’s British Travel Awards and it would be nice to think that everyone who’s loved spending time here this weekend might go online and vote.”