MOTORISTS were caught in 11-mile queues as holidaymakers and daytrippers flocked to Tendring’s sunshine coast.

Leisure bosses had predicted a tourism boom this summer as people choose to holiday at home due to the recession.

Trafficlink, which supplies traffic information for the Gazette’s website, said there were long delays due to people heading for the Clacton, Harwich, Frinton and Walton yesterday.

Traffic queued for 11 miles on the A120 eastbound, from Colchester’s Ardleigh Crown Interchange to the A133.

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said all the district’s beaches were busy yesterday.

He said: “The weather forecast was excellent and people obviously decided to head for the coast.

“Our beach patrol teams were kept very busy all day, and there were increased numbers of people at Frinton and Walton.

“At Clacton, the beaches had more people on them than at any other time this season.”

Mr Brown added they were packed from Clacton Pier right up to Martello Bay.

He said: “The team at Clacton were constantly on the go and there were literally hundreds of people in the sea, enjoying the hot sunny conditions.”

North Essex weatherman Terry Mayes said temperatures are not expected to be as high over the weekend and there is a possibility of rain today.

He said: “The weather is going to cool off a little bit going into Friday and Saturday, but it will still be warm and sunny.

“Temperatures will be about 22C or 23C rather than the 25C or 26C we have had, which is why people have been flocking to the coast.”