IT feels like we’ve been waiting forever for summer to arrive.

So when it finally came at the weekend it was no surprise that residents, visitors and businesses in Oxford made the most of it.

Traders are now preparing for another boom this weekend with temperatures predicted to reach as high as 28 degrees celsius.

Last weekend’s scorching temperatures coincided with events such as the Cowley Road Carnival and Alice’s Day.

Andrew Howard, owner of Magdalen Bridge Boathouse punting, said: “We’ve probably seen a 100 per cent increase in business over the weekend. It was been pretty hectic.”

Zee Fairhead-Keast, 51, an interior designer who tried out punting on the Thames in Oxford on a family visit from Singapore, said: “We couldn’t have asked for better weather.

“We’re going to Scotland and London next and the weather is meant to be good too. We can’t wait.”

Over 400 people flocked to the Oxford Castle Quarter on Saturday with queues for G&D’s ice-creams and people enjoying volleyball on the new man-made beach.

Adam Norris, 10, a chorister at Christ Church Cathedral School, who visited the beach to play volleyball on Monday, said: “It was good fun. The weather was great.”

The number of people using the leisure facilities at Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel in Abingdon has also increased.

Cerris Shenk, events co-ordinator, said: “We’ve been very, very busy. There’s definitely been an increase.”

Ice-cream sellers have also been benefiting.

Stephen Wadey, 24, from Jericho, is the manager of G&D’s in Little Clarendon Street.

She said: “The shop has gone from running nice and steady, to suddenly being very busy and vibrant.”

Tom Hughes, 25, assistant manger at the Red Lion pub in Gloucester Street, said: “We’ve seen a 20 per cent increase in people coming to the pub since this time last year when it was wet.

“We’re having to put on more staff and have ordered more summer hop beers to cope with demand.”

Phil Southall, operations director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “All our services are very popular at the moment.

“We are constantly monitoring the situation and we can respond rapidly to changes in demand.”

The good weather is set to go on with the Met Office predicting 28 degrees celsius tomorrow, 25 degrees on Sunday and 26 degrees on Monday.

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