Is this the sunniest place in England?

Eastbourne beach/PA

A fierce row has broken out between the seaside towns of Hastings and Eastbourne over who owns the coveted title of "sunniest place in England".

When Daily Telegraph expert forecaster Phillip Eden announced that Eastbourne had won top place with 1,962 hours of sunshine last year, tourism chiefs in Hastings claimed their own evidence showed that the sun shone there for 2,010 hours.

A press release from Eastbourne tourist bosses announced that they were "delighted" that they had "more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country".

Hastings beach/PA

But Hastings councillor Peter Chowney said: "It's an outrage. Hastings always tops the league and we rarely get the recognition," reports the Daily Telegraph.

Hastings tourism bosses also claimed that Eastbourne was being disingenuous by taking its readings from the top of Beachy Head to maximise its figures.

The Daily Telegraph reports that matters have become even more complicated after Jersey in the Channel Islands pitched in, claiming to outshine them both:

'The scientific facts speak for themselves and we are happy to counter any challenges to our great record," said David de Cartere, Jersey's tourism director, speaking to the newspaper.

The row looks set to continue. In June 2011. the Met Office said Bognor Regis (below) was the sunniest spot, enjoying 1,902 hours of sunshine

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