โ€œIt doesnโ€™t matter what we do these vile idiots will ignore rules,โ€ tweeted Vikki Slade, the leader of Bournemouth Council, who justifiably described the behaviour of the hordes the heatwave brought to her town as โ€œdisgustingโ€.

She was conversing online with Laura Miller, a Conservative from DorsetCouncil, who reported being sworn at and spat at. โ€œWe are trying everything we can โ€“ signs, road closures, ticketing, education โ€“ you name it but it doesnโ€™t work. They donโ€™t care,โ€ Miller said.