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Eastbourne is UK's sunniest Town

A seaside town has topped the sunshine league - confirming its status as the sunniest place in the UK, according to a leading weather expert.

Meteorologist Philip Eden said Eastbourne had the highest number of sunshine hours in the UK last year.

The resort recorded 1,962 hours of sunshine in 2011, significantly ahead of rival destinations Jersey and Guernsey, Mr Eden said.

He added that Eastbourne recorded an average of five hours and 23 minutes of sunshine a day, with 273.9 hours of sunshine in April 2011 - almost 100 hours more than the long-term average.

Mr Eden, who manages weather-uk.com and climate-uk.com, said the average temperature recorded in Eastbourne last year was 12.3C, compared to 10C, which is believed to be the highest annual average on record.

Eastbourne Borough councillor Neil Stanley, cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: "We are absolutely delighted to hear that we are yet again the sunniest place in the UK, with our microclimate bringing us more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country."