Baffling surge in swimsuit sales during the big freeze

As the nation tentatively emerges from the coldest winter for a generation, retail experts have revealed that sales of skimpy swimsuits have soared.

Bosses at Debenhams were left scratching their heads after swimsuit sales rocketed by 20% last month, when snow and ice blanketed most of the country.

There seems to be little reason for the surge in sales especially since major problems at many of the nation’s biggest airports led to foreign holidays being cancelled.

Claire Barkhuizen of Debenhams admits the stats are baffling.

She said, “The figures are certainly remarkable.”

Sales may be going swimmingly, but there seemed little evidence of an increase in swimsuits on Fife’s windswept beaches.

One rather cold dogwalker in St Andrews said, “Swimming is the last thing on my mind on a day like this.

“As far as I am concerned we are lucky if we get even one or two days a year where I would dare to venture out in a swimsuit.”