At last! The sun shines on resort
BANK holiday sunshine brightened a bleak summer of tourism trade along the West Norfolk coast when thousands flocked to its seaside resorts.
Businesses who had kept their fingers crossed for a break in the downpours were delighted when the sun came out and temperatures rose to a pleasant 25C on Saturday and 21C respectively.
The mayor of Hunstanton, Cllr Richard Bird, said: "This resort really takes off when the weather is good.
"The seafront was incredibly busy with lots and lots of people in the water – and they were still in the water at nine o'clock at night.
"I'm told the car parks were full and that 20,000 cars arrived here on the Monday."
West Norfolk Council's cabinet member for sports, arts and open spaces, Cllr Liz Nockolds, said: "Day chalets on the North Promenade, which had been quiet for the past fortnight, were fully taken up during the weekend.
"Everyone was out on the beach and I've been told by business people there was a lovely atmosphere in the resort."
The bumper crowds were also welcome news to RNLI fundraisers, who held their annual flag day with street collections and stalls in High Street, Hunstanton.
Lifeboat Guild chairman Mrs Margaret Bullen said the collection raised 1,305 and just under 600 of goods, including Christmas cards, were sold.
The number of visitors attracted by the weather was also reflected in takings at the volunteer-manned RNLI shop in Old Hunstanton.
At Snettisham, a massive 300 tickets were sold at the beach car park operated by the parish council.
Council clerk Mrs Beverly Boughen said the car park was packed.
"The weather always makes a big difference. A few weeks ago when we had a nice weekend the car park was so full we sold 400 tickets in one day," she said.
Trippers lingered until late in Hunstanton on the Monday, making the most of the final hours of the bank holiday weekend. Heading home in the evening, hundreds of vehicles were caught up in nose-to-tail congestion stretching from Hunstanton to Lynn.
The emergency services were kept on their toes by five reports of missing children which each sparked search operations.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
