SUN-kissed Brits enjoyed a bank holiday barbecue bonanza yesterday — after spending a staggering £500million on food and drink.
The nation fired up the grills as temperatures soared on the hottest day of the year so far — with the mercury peaking at a sweltering 24.4C (75.9F).
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And they quenched their thirst by guzzling millions of cans and bottles of beer across the glorious three-day break.
Supermarket shelves were stripped bare amid a stampede to eat outdoors in the scorching mini heatwave.
Up to 56 million sausages were snapped up for the third bank holiday weekend this month.
Tesco alone was expecting to sell 14 million bangers, four million burgers and five million ices.
Sales of hot dog and burger buns also went through the roof, along with punnets of strawberries and bags of salad.
And sales of charcoal and gas are double what they were last weekend, figures show.
Thrilled Tesco barbecue meat range buyer Barney Bowen said: “The British barbecue season has officially started.
“We are seeing really strong demand from shoppers after one of the coldest and wettest spring seasons for ages.
“Not only do we finally have the arrival of great weather — but also a bank holiday and half-term to boot.”
Asda said sales of sun cream went up by 86 per cent amid the huge £500million boost to the economy.
Fans also flew off the shelves, with purchases up by 300 per cent on last week.
B&Q, Homebase and other garden centres said they had also seen a mad dash for barbecues.
Co-op research shows families will cook in the garden rather than go out to save money.
Nicole Tallant said: “This summer, they are going to play an even more important role as the cost-of-living squeezes household budgets and going out for meals happens less.”
As many as two in five families wheeled out the barbecue.
But millions more flocked to beaches, including packed Weymouth in Dorset, and beer gardens — with boozers reporting a roaring trade as they try to recover from Covid losses.
British Beer and Pub Association boss Emma McClarkin said: “Summer is a crucial period of the year for pubs.”
But it is unlikely to reach 25C (77F) by the end of the month — for the only time in the first six months of a year since 2013.
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