The UK enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far on Thursday, triggering a major incident to be declared after “half a million” visitors headed to the south coast of England.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council said services were “completely overstretched” as huge numbers of visitors defied advice to stay away – prompting authorities to declare the major incident.
Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood said Dorset had seen “half a million visitors” to the area causing traffic jams and full beaches.
Dorset Police urged people to stay away adding: “We are still in a public health crisis and such a significant volume of people heading to one area places a further strain on emergency services resources.”
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