How revellers in Kent enjoyed the weekend heatwave as temperatures soared
Published: 20:27, 18 July 2021
Updated: 15:29, 19 July 2021
With the sun beating down in Kent and temperatures nudging into the low 30s, revellers headed to some of the county's best beaches.
The glorious weather, fittingly, coincided with World Ice Cream Day today while some schoolchildren got their summer holidays under way in style.
People flocked to some of the county's most popular beaches over the weekend - visiting Whitstable, Folkestone, locations across Thanet and Lydd-on-Sea.
Among those spotted on Whitstable beach was popular comedian and actor Jack Whitehall.
He also visited The Crescent Turner hotel on Wraik Hill and posted to his story on social media on Sunday, sharing the views as he ate lunch.
The 33-year-old shared a succession of photos of himself enjoying the sunshine at the town's beach alongside his dog on his Instagram account, captioning the photos: "Who's walking who?"
On his Instagram story, he also shared snaps of himself catching some rays in the town during the weekend heatwave.
But one woman was less than impressed with the litter that was left at the town's beach.
Sharing her snaps of the rubbish on Twitter, user @candy43759291 said: "There should be more cleaners and they should start at 6am, it is horrendous.
"Or make new beach staffing positions, because it’s also the upper-class and middle-classes, leaving all their rubbish. That (the scene when photos were taken) was at 9am this morning."
There were no such issues for actor Jonathan Blakeley who was by the sea at Folkestone.
He posted: "Weekend in Folkestone - spot of acting, many tequilas and vodkas, and a swim in the sea to reset the clock.
"Back to the smoke I go."
Patrick Southworth said he enjoyed catching some rays at Ramsgate beach this afternoon before he added: "Just going for fish and chips."
Becky Maude, meanwhile, was also having some quality family time at Lydd-on-Sea, Dungeness.
On Instagram, user @tompau0406 also posted an impressive picture of a busy scene at Broadstairs beach.
Today's latest stage of the heatwave comes a day before so-called "freedom day".
But the Prime Minister and Chancellor will be spending the day in self-isolation after a government u-turn as the remaining coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
It was announced this morning Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak would not be following the usual guidance and would instead be taking part in a daily contact testing pilot which would allow them to continue to work from Downing Street.
It followed the news on Saturday that Health Secretary Sajid Javid had been confirmed as testing positive for the virus.
The initial announcement sparked outrage on social media.
But just two hours later, it was announced the pair would instead be quarantining, and not taking part in the trial after all.
"The Prime Minister has been contacted by NHS Test and Trace to say he is a contact of someone with Covid,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
"He was at Chequers when contacted by Test and Trace and will remain there to isolate. He will not be taking part in the testing pilot.
“He will continue to conduct meetings with ministers remotely. The Chancellor has also been contacted and will also isolate as required and will not be taking part in the pilot.”
Were you out in the sun this weekend? Email us your pictures to news@thekmgroup.co.uk.
Read more: All the latest news from Kent
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Thomas Reeves