Onlookers shocked as mass brawl breaks out on packed Bank Holiday beach

A mass brawl broke out on a British beach as temperatures soared to 25C on Bank Holiday Monday.

More than a dozen people - mostly young men - came to blows on Viking Bay beach in Broadstairs, east Kent, as tempers flared in the baking sun.

It came as Brits descended on the country's coastal beauty spots as the recent easing of lockdown measures combined with the fine weather.

The unsavoury incident, in which the two-metre rule and restrictions on mass gatherings were completely ignored, was caught on camera.

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More than a dozen people were involved in the mass brawl on Viking Bay beach (Facebook)

The two-minute video, filmed at around 4pm by a couple sitting just yards away on the beach, quickly became a viral hit.

Young adults in beachwear are seen coming together as punches are thrown and some are knocked to the ground.

Off camera, a man says, while laughing: "Oh my God, really? Oh my God."

Police were called to the scene in east Kent, with several people escorted away (Facebook)

It is unclear what sparked the row though the video proved a viral hit (Facebook)

A woman then says: "Look at the girls trying to get involved."

And the man adds: "They're all going for it now. Oh my God."

Kent Online reports witnesses claimed they saw one person trying to break-up the fight, while the police are understood to have attended the scene and spoke to multiple people.

And while no arrests have been made, a number of people are understood to have been escorted away.

It comes as people are being warned not to overcrowd beaches with sun-seekers making the most of the fine weather.

With schools in England, Scotland and Wales on a half-term break this week, large numbers of people are expected to continue emerging from lockdown amid the warm conditions.

Hundreds of people took to Bournemouth beach on Monday, prompting a tweet from the local council reminding people there were "other less busy but equally lovely open spaces to enjoy".

A week after the relaxation of guidelines to allow people to visit beauty spots in England, the Government and the police have urged people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines.

"Please use common sense when it comes to social distancing," the Metropolitan Police's Hillingdon branch tweeted.