Britain to bask in hottest day of the year so far

Today could be the hottest day of the year so far, the Met Office said. Over the weekend, parks and beaches filled as the temperature rose to highs of 24.5C, hotter than the Mediterranean.

Alex Burkill, a forecaster at the Met Office, said:

"There's a good chance we could reach 25C. There's an outside chance we could get a little above 25C, perhaps reaching 26C."

Mr Burkill said places most likely to see the hottest temperatures would be the London area, up to the Midlands, and up towards the north west.

More: Muggy night after hottest day of the year

After today's record temperatures, tonight will be muggy for many with temperatures as high as 14 degrees.

More: Britain hotter than Malta on warmest day of the year

Britons basked in the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures higher than the Balearics and Malta.

Many flocked to parks and beaches as the mercury rose to a top temperature of 24.5C (76.1F) in St James' Park in central London, compared to high teens in the Mediterranean holiday islands.

It means that this May could still be on track to become the hottest ever, with bookmakers Ladbrokes slashing odds to 5/1 that the record set 60 years ago when temperatures got to 32.8C (91.04F) will be beaten.

Britain has been enjoying what is expected to be the warmest day of the year, with temperatures set to soar higher than in Greece and Italy.

Forecasters said the mercury is expected to rise as high as 25C (77F) in south east England, while in Rome and Athens it is anticipated to be in the low 20s.

Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far, with a top temperature of 23.9C (74.66F) recorded in Santon Downham in Suffolk, but that is expected to be beaten today.

Much of the United Kingdom can look forward to another day of warm sunshine today, with temperatures set to be higher than parts of the Mediterranean again.

Yesterday was the warmest day of the year so far, with a top temperature of 23.9C (74.66F) recorded in Santon Downham in Suffolk, but that is expected to be beaten today.

Bookmakers Ladbrokes slashed its odds to just 4/7 that it will reach 26C (80F) today while it is also offering odds of 8/1 on May becoming the hottest on record.

More: Britain set to be warmer than Ibiza, Madrid and Rome this weekend

Britons flocked to parks and beaches as the hottest temperature of the year so far was recorded.

The mercury rose to 23.9C (74.66F) in Santon Downham in Suffolk, beating yesterday's high of 23.7C (75.02F) recorded in Pershore College in Worcestershire.

Today's sunny weather meant the UK was warmer than Athens and Rome, which both had temperatures of 21C (69.8F) recorded.

Forecasters said tomorrow could be even warmer and reach 25C (77F), with bookmakers slashing their odds to just 4/7 that it will reach 26C (80F).

A mini beach created on the Newcastle Quayside has opened a week early because of the summer weather. The free attraction, called the Quayside Seaside, looks out onto the River Tyne.

It has deck-chairs, beach volleyball and buckets and spades.

Read more: Saturday's weather forecast

ITV Weather Presenter Lucy Verasamy has the weekend forecast:

Read: Britain set to be warmer than Ibiza, Madrid and Rome this weekend

ITV Weather Presenter Lucy Verasamy has the weekend forecast:

Read: Britain set to be warmer than Ibiza and Madrid this weekend