IT was a potentially record-breaking day for Cumbria, as the mercury soared.

The Met Office said it had recorded the hottest July day on record in the south of England yesterday, and temperatures in Carlisle were potentially topping past highs too.

St Bees Beach was taken over by friends and families from far and wide, with plenty of ice cream and picnics being eaten by sea-sprayed children and their sweltering parents.

And with the beach being filled to the brim, sun-seekers headed to Hartley’s Beach Shop where staff were kept on their toes, running to-and-fro in the packed cafe to keep the cold drinks flowing.

After leaving their husbands queuing for the drinks, Ally Deeming and Kathryn Farrar, from Lichfield, settled on the sand with 20-month-old Louis Deeming and Phoebe Farrar, two.

“It’s gorgeous here, and we picked the perfect week to come up for a holiday,” said Ally.

Kathryn added: “The kids absolutely love it here. We had a splash in the sea before, and now Louis’s enjoying some sausage rolls, so he’s very happy.”

Also enjoying the sun were Sellafield workers Jennifer Burns and Lynsey Wilkinson and their friend Jessica Bennett, all from Whitehaven, with their children Isaac, four, Marley, two, Hendrix, six, Jenson, nine, Anita, one, and Harvey, three. Lynsey was glad to have booked the day off work to spend the day in the sun.

“They’re all getting soaked in the rock pools, and they love it,” she said.

Jessica added: “We’ve got a little picnic, and we’ll be having a paddle in the sea soon. We’ll definitely be coming back if it’s still this sunny tomorrow.”

Along the sand was Betsy, from Whitehaven, with her grandparents Jill and Gary Deane, who were rescuing a damaged sandcastle.

The couple enjoy spending the day with their four-year-old granddaughter, and said: “We love this beach – it’s perfect for everyone. Betsy really loves the rock pools, and paddling in the pools in the sand.”

“Her mum sewed a ribbon to her hat so she can tie it on, and it’s a good thing with this lovely breeze!” Jill added.

The heat was taking its toll on the inhabitants of the Lake District Wildlife Park, near Keswick too.

Lucy Dunn, education and co-ordinator, explained: “Simple measures of cooling the animals down include putting ice cubes in their water and creating ‘ice lollies’ from everyday fruit and veg, such as grapes.

“We can even freeze bottles of water for them to cuddle.”

Thunderstorms and heavy rain swept much of the county from late afternoon, with a warning for thunder in place until early this morning.