With the end of summer holidays in sight, Southend traders (like the rest of us) are hoping for some good weather.

Days when the sun is shining means a boost to business in the city and the recent lacklustre weather has had a impact on trade in Southend.

Echo: Weather dependent - Allen AndrewsWeather dependent - Allen Andrews (Image: Newsquest staff)

Allen Andrews, works for Ensignbus’s Southend open top buses and hopes for sunshine but has also learned to not stress too much about the unpredictable weather.

He said: "Open top bus tours are very weather dependent, however, I have worked on buses for a long time in London and we came to understand that you have good summers and not so good summers.

"In recent years we have had three really good summers and this one is a bit of a wash out. You have to hope the sun comes out for the last few weeks."

Ye Olde Chippy has been in Southend for more than 30 years. The team is a family run business and James' mother-in-law Augusta Zinonos, who ran the original business, continues to work there. They have learned that a good reputation and weather proofing all help with business.

Echo: Ye Olde Chippy - James Nicholls, Augusta Zinonos and Zoe ZinonosYe Olde Chippy - James Nicholls, Augusta Zinonos and Zoe Zinonos (Image: Newsquest staff)

Co-owner James Nicholls said: "If people book in advance, we have steady customers but I do have to keep a close eye on the weather and change the accordingly so we don't have wastage. It can be unpredictable though, just last Saturday it rained all day and we thought it would be a quiet day, but it was National Sierra Leone Day and we had 15 coaches all wanting fish and chips!

"We’re lucky because we’ve been in Southend for many years and moved to these premises three years ago and expanded and took over the Subway next door in March. Now we have a soft play area and seating next door so we are quite weather proof in that way."

Jimmy Constantinou, works at his daughter’s business Café Rebecca after running Pier Arches Café for 30 years.

Echo: Sunny times ahead - Jimmy Constantinou at Café Rebecca Sunny times ahead - Jimmy Constantinou at Café Rebecca (Image: Newsquest staff)

He said: “I am thankful that Southend always has a lot going on, whether it is the Southend Pier train, the antique cars on the beach, it is a vibrant, busy place and the people want to visit here.

“The prices are going up but we try not to pass that onto our customers and we take the flack. But we hope that the sun will come out and the prices will come back down.”