DAMP weather meant Bournemouth town centre was relatively quiet on the first bank holiday weekend since pubs and pars reopened.

Skies were grey throughout most of Saturday, but that didn’t stop queues forming for the Moon in the Square, McDonalds and Harry Ramsden’s.

Some people braved the sea while others were content sitting on the beach, most of them wrapped in a coat or thick jumper.

One family travelled from Wiltshire to Dorset’s coast to enjoy the beach.

They said: “Our drive up was really sunny, we were surprised to see it this empty.

“As soon as the sun went, they all disappeared.”

Families could also be seen making the most of the mini golf facilities in the town, and passers-by were stopping to enjoy the music provided by buskers.

Key West on the pier was busy, although there was no queue and the Prom Café was busy but again without a queue.

The new W Beach restaurant was busy, with residents making the most of the new seafront facility.

And in the lower gardens were quiet, a few people sat having lunch and some playing football in small groups.

But it was the Moon in the Square which had the largest queue.

One student said: “Our plan is to get drunk. We did expect it to be this busy but we’ll probably get into the pub within half an hour.

“We came a couple of weeks ago and stayed for eight hours.

“I plan to go shopping tomorrow and then catch up with university work on Monday.”