SEAFRONT business owners are gearing up for a bank holiday weekend of sunny skies and swelling visitor numbers.

The Met Office’s positive outlook, which forecasts temperatures for South Essex of between 19 and 22 degrees across the weekend, has come as welcome news to traders after a dismal spring.

Sarah Walby, who owns the Stay and Splash at the Paddocks park, Canvey, said: “We are really hopeful as this will be our first weekend of trading this season.

“We have spent the past few days preparing for the bank holiday and it has been glorious, an absolute sun trap, so we are looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible to kick off the summer.

“You can never get back the money you lose on a bad weekend, but a forecast like this really does make all the difference.”

Colin Oliver, who owns popular breakfast and lunch spot Oliver’s on the Beach said: “Hopefully we will be getting a lot of people coming down in the next few days – it has been a really slow start to spring and a long winter so the good weather and crowds coming down to the beaches are long overdue.”

Philip Miller MBE, executive chairman of Stockvale Ltd., which owns a number of seafront businesses including Adventure island, said: “We are looking forward to a big weekend, after having the worst start on record it will be good for the seafront and High Street.

“I hope the council will have the car parks manned as they did a couple of weeks back, as if not we are heading for gridlock for everyone, residents and visitors alike.”

Measures, including increased car park staff, are being taken by Southend Council to accommodate the influx of daytrippers.

They are encouraging visitors to consider using alternative town centre car parks, and visit award-winning beaches in Shoeburyness and Thorpe bay as an alternative.

Waste contractor Veolia will also be increasing its staffing levels to cope with the extra demand, as well as providing extra bins and littering crews. to cope with beach rubbish.

Scott Dolling, director for tourism at Southend Council, said: “Ultimately, our aim is to provide a safe and pleasant visitor experience that leaves people wanting to return to our town.”