The Essex Sunshine Coast has certainly lived up to its nickname during these last few days, with the warm weather drawing in tens of thousands of people.

After many years of struggle for seaside towns such as ours, it’s fantastic that last weekend so many people were making full use of our fantastic amusements, beautiful sandy beaches and of course the many brilliant pubs.

Even more impressively, Clacton Pier was operating at full capacity, and The Hook was so busy that people were having to queue up outside for their fantastic fish and chips.

Weekends like the last one are so important not just in terms of the revenue generated but also for generating a sense of positivity and optimism.

I also hope this is a good sign of things to come with the school holidays fast approaching, and that we can expect to see many more visitors throughout the summer.

However, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors does not come without its own challenges. There have been complaints about cars blocking roads and bins overflowing with the litter generated by the sheer numbers of visitors.

I would be interested in hearing your views on how we can mitigate these twin challenges, which you can do via email to nigel.farage.mp@parliament.uk.  

Perhaps an even more significant challenge was faced by the Tendring Beach Patrol, the team of lifeguards and wardens employed by the council to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the seafront areas.

Over the course of the two-day weekend, they assisted hundreds of people, including helping 175 swimmers who got out of their depth and performing first aid on 33 people.

To all visitors and locals alike, I would echo the advice of the Tendring Beach Patrol to remember to always check beach conditions before your visit, swim at a lifeguarded beach, and if you find yourself in trouble, #FloatToLive.