The previous high for the year was on June 10 when temperatures reached 23.8C. However it was smashed yesterday when at 12.37pm the thermometer rose to 24.7C, according to www.scarboroughweather.co.uk

The weather was so hot the penguins at Scarborough Sea Life Centre had to be given a shower to cool off. Sharon Jarvis, commercial manager at the centre, said: "The penguins love to have a shower with the hose pipe. It helps them to keep cool when the weather get warm, which makes them much happier."

The sunny spells drew holidaymakers, day visitors, and local people to the beach, where the hot sun and clear skies provided an ideal sunbathing opportunity.

Alec Brewer, a cashier for South Bay Deck Chairs, said: "Earlier on in the afternoon we completely sold out of deck chairs, which we have not done since the nice weather during the Easter holidays. The nice weather has brought a lot of people down to the beach."

The large crowds on the seafront meant South Bay traders enjoyed a boom in business. Kerry Hicks, at Winking Willies fish and chip shop said: " It is shocking really how many people have come down to the seafront in the middle of the week. It has been more like a Saturday today."

Another favourite seaside haunt proved just as popular as the Harbour Bar had a continuous queue of customers. However due to average gusts of 5.1mph few tourists were venturing out into the sea.

Mick Ellis, who works on the Hispaniola pirate ship, said: "The sea was a bit rough in the afternoon when the wind got up, which puts people off getting on board. We had a fairly steady morning but it was average really for July 1."

According to www.scarboroughweather.co.uk, which began in 2003, the hottest day it has ever recorded was on June 23, 2005, when at 2.56pm temperatures soared to 30.3C.