AFTER briefly being named hottest place in Britain in 2003, Gravesend is hoping to reclaim the crown this summer.

A temperatue of 38.1C was recorded in the town on August 10, 2003, making it the hottest place on record in Britain.

However, later that day Brogdale near Faversham reached 38.5C and took Gravesend’s place in the record books before it could even be written down.

The title brings with it an increase in tourists, and with the recession hitting hard Gravesend businesses are hoping the forecast sunny summer will heat the town up to number one in the country again.

Jack Kamenou owns Reliance Fish Restaurant in Queen Street and says breaking the temperature record “can only be a good thing “ for Gravesend.

The 42-year-old said: “Being known as the hottest place in Britain will increase the number of tourists coming here, and of course that will boost the economy.

“When people know the weather is going to be good they go out more and spend more.”

Arber Hasani, the manager of the Robert Pocock pub in Windmill Street, agreed with Mr Kamenou.

Standing among customers enjoying a drink in the sun on the pub’s patio, the 26-year-old said: “You just need to look around you to see the effect the good weather has on business.”

As a riverside town close to London with many historical points of interest, including the supposed burial place of legendary Native American princess Pocahontas, Gravesend already attracts tourists.

Once again becoming the hottest place in Britain can only bring more, but the town is still some way off reclaiming this crown despite the recent glorious weather.

Monday (June 1) was the hottest day of the year so far, with Port Solent in Hampshire reaching a high of 27.2C, but Gravesend lagged behind on 25C.

However, with a sweltering summer on the way there will surely be a hotter day to come, and all the town needs is for that 25C to rise by 13.6C to overtake Brogdale and burn its name into the record books.

There is a real chance Gravesend’s temperature can rise to the occasion.

If you really want Gravesend to reclaim the record, here are some ways to help while annoying your friends, family and neighbours:

- Switch off all fans and air conditioning units.

- Leave your central heating, fire, oven and mircrowave on all day with your home’s doors open.

- Perform a ritual dance to please the God of Sun while singing the Buster Poindexter song ‘Hot Hot Hot’.

Hottest temperature facts:

- Before August 10, 2003, Britain’s hottest temperature on record was the 37.1C reached in Cheltenham on August 3, 1990.

- The hottest temperature ever recorded on earth is the 57.8C reached in Al Aziziyah in Libya on September 13, 1922.

- Seville in Spain holds the record for the hottest ever temperature in Europe, with 50.5C recorded on August 4, 1881.

- The hottest temperature reached in the South Pole is -14C, which was recorded on December 27, 1978.