Hottest Easter ever?

By Ben Leach

Millions of holidaymakers flocked to beaches across the country to make the most of the unseasonably warm weather.

But forecasters warned the glorious sunshine will be short-lived as temperatures look set to drop gradually throughout the week, starting on Sunday.

Some parts of the country were even hit by torrential downpours on Saturday afternoon.

In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, some roads became impassable as hailstorms fell and flood water formed several inches deep.

Parts of Kent, London, east Wales, the East Midlands, and Yorkshire were also hit by heavy rain.

Forecasters said the outlook for the royal wedding on Friday remained uncertain but there could well be brief downpours in London during the day.

Temperatures in the South East topped 80F (27C) yesterday, well above the average for this time of year.

The Easter weekend has seen temperatures higher than those in southern Spain and some Greek islands.

Beaches across the UK were packed with Britons enjoying the record-breaking Easter Bank Holiday weekend weather.

The Prime Minister was seen relaxing on the beach in Polzeath, Cornwall, with his wife, Samantha, and youngest daughter, Florence.

More than 100,000 people travelled to Bournemouth beach, in Dorset, as temperatures peaked at around 77F (25C).

The A23 became gridlocked near Brighton as a similar number travelled to the East Sussex coast.

Barry Gromett, of the Met Office, said temperatures will start to fall on Sunday and the chances of rain will increase throughout the week.

He said: "Temperatures could fall to 55F (13C) towards the end of next week in some areas, and to around (17C) in the south.

"It will get a lot cooler but it's still above the average for this time of year. Towards the middle and end of this week there will be an increased risk of showers."

He said the Met Office only kept records of Easter weekend temperatures going back to 1960 but kept records of average April temperatures going back to 1910.

The forecast downpours could bring an end to the pollution affecting cities after the government introduced a smog warning on Friday.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs raised the warning to 'high' for most of south, east and central England as the sunshine and still conditions prevented any dispersal of the tiny particles of soot, dust, dirt and liquid nitrogen dioxide. Telegraph