TOURIST attractions saw their visitor numbers double in some areas of north Essex as soaring temperatures set records across the country.

The early May Bank Holiday saw highs of 25 degrees in Colchester with East Anglia being among the hotspots.

Colchester Zoo was busy with sun-loving families enjoying seeing the animals and watching the demonstrations.

Business development manager Melissa Fitch said: “Attendance figures soared up to almost 8,000 on Monday alone with a total footfall of around 21,500 over the three days, which is an increase of nearly 5,000 compared to last year’s May Bank Holiday.

“We believe we can safely say the weather played a huge part in the footfall we experienced.”

Melissa said the zoo’s “tough start to the year” was largely down to the poor weather.

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Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

It's no surprise where the Sun Bear had the most fun. Picture: Colchester Zoo

Once the promising forecast was in, Jack Trollope, who co-founded Mersea Island Watersports in 2013 with Mark Minter, became fully booked.

He said: “Over Sunday and Monday there was over 125 people on the water which was quite phenomenal for the first Bank Holiday and double what we had last May.

“At the end of August last year, we had similar numbers when the weather was phenomenally hot, but on a normal weekend we’d have no more than 20 people per day.

“Being already booked for next weekend I’d like to think it will start a trend and continue.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard:

The demand for watersports and boat rides naturally increased in Dedham

The influx of water seekers made for an exhausting Bank Holiday, and one of the busiest Jack had experienced in his home town.

He said: “The best way to describe it is that the roads were footpaths. You couldn’t drive anywhere.

“I’ve lived here for 23 years and Mark for 50-plus and we reckon it was the busiest May Bank Holiday we’ve seen in Mersea.

“As soon as the forecast went out, especially after the rubbish weather we’ve had the past few months, everyone was pleased to get outside.”

The less active enjoyed basking in the sun at the Black Buoy’s Real Cider and Ale Festival in Wivenhoe, with a picnic in the park and with tea and cakes.

Nicky Goldsack, of Wilkin & Sons Ltd, said: “The sunny weather helped to increase visitors across the Tiptree tea room business.

“There was an increase in footfall of 15 per cent at the Essex Rose tea room in Dedham where the afternoon teas were really popular.”

Dave Robertson, centre manager of Culver Square, also witnessed a boost to shopping and the sale of iced Costa coffees.

Forecasters are predicting a drop in temperature in the forthcoming week with the possibility of showers.

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