Holidaymakers hoping to catch some February rays in the UK’s sunniest seaside town may be out of luck, after the main path down to the beach was shut off from public access. The Hollywell Steps, which lead down to Hollywell beach on the edge of Eastbourne in East Sussex, have been temporarily closed by the borough council following safety concerns. The local authority said cracks had appeared in the chalk behind the steps, potentially posing a “risk to the public” and necessitating further inspections.

Eastbourne has been dubbed the sunniest place in the UK for its 1,892 hours of annual sunshine, more than 500 hours above the famously drizzly country’s average. It also holds the record for the most sunshine in a month, with 383.9 hours in July 1911.

Hollywell is among the area’s most popular seafronts, with a 4.6-star rating on TripAdvisor and recent visitors praising its “quiet and peaceful” atmosphere.

Others have described it as a “little oasis” and praised the fare offered in its beach cafe, especially the “coffee, sausage rolls and cake”.

A spokesperson for Eastbourne Borough Council said: “Please be aware we have temporarily closed Hollywell steps today (Monday, February 2) as a precautionary measure.

“Cracks have appeared in the chalk behind the steps, which could pose a risk to the public.

“A geotechnical assessment of the chalk will be carried out, as well as necessary maintenance work.

“Further updates will be provided in the coming days.”