DEDICATED beachophiles foresook their firesides and weathered a wetting for the opportunity of enjoying the summer sun in a Mudeford beach hut.

At the head of the queue yesterday was pregnant Hannah Burton, who camped out in the cold and damp for almost two days for the opportunity to enjoy a summer of sun, sand and swimming with her first baby.

“I’m 19 days away, so I’m glad it’s not happened while I’m here or I would have lost my space,” she said before the door to the Avon Beach Company office opened at 9am.

After handing over £200 as a deposit for a seasonal let she went off to celebrate her last day at work before her confinement.

Anne-Marie Facer, who lives a stone’s throw from the beach was second in line and had been there since 1am on Wednesday to guarantee getting one of four seasonal lets, which means she will not have to queue next year.

“I’ve got a hut in my garden,” she admitted. “I bought it off the beach last year. I’m obsessed.

“But it’s just handy with the children.”

Neil Baker-Clipston was third in line and had been sharing the queuing with wife Safra. “She came home at about 6.30 this morning. She had just had enough,” he said.

Jean Stickland, also of Mudeford, had braved the rain since 6.30am to book one of 17 summer holiday lets available so her great-grandchildren from Manchester could enjoy the summer on the seashore.

“They love to come down here,” she said.

And so do a lot of others – the queue numbered at least 30.