AFTER the rainy start to the Bank Holiday, the sun soon came out and people flocked to south Essex’s seaside attractions to make the most of it.

Both Southend and Canvey proved popular choices with day trippers as temperatures reached 23 degrees in Southend.

Fun parks Adventure Island, in Southend, and Fantasy Island, in Canvey, were both heaving with people making the most of the sunshine until the heavens opened again on Sunday afternoon.

Southend traders said they had enjoyed a bumper Bank Holiday, with businesses booming with the influx of tourists over the weekend.

Many visitors took the opportunity to enjoy a traditional fish and chips on the seafront, a beer at a pub or an ice cream while sitting on the beach.

All of Southend’s sea front car parks quickly reached capacity and people were encouraged to park in the town.

Gary Hill, deputy manager at the Foresters Arms, in Marine Parade, Southend, said: “We have been very busy.

“We did expect it to be as it is a sunny Bank Holiday, but it has been amazing.

“We are usually busy every weekend and we were completely packed. It is really good for us and the town.

“The whole seafront was very busy.”

Sandra Gilbert, owner of Gilbies cafe and shop, also said she had enjoyed a busy weekend.

She added: “It has been really good and we have had a lot of customers.

“It is the weather — if it’s sunny, we will be busy, if it isn’t then we are quieter. I wouldn’t say we have been run off our feet but it has been good.

“It is a shame, though, because if you compare if to five years ago when we had the airshow, that was when it would get really busy.”

Essex Police officers were also out in force in both locations to reassure the public after the Manchester terrorist attack.

Officers patrolled the packed beaches and seafront areas.

In Southend, officers posed for photos with children, who even got to try on their hats and some lucky visitors also got to have their photo taken with a police motorbike.