15/04/2011
Forecasters have predicted that the UK will bask in glorious sunshine over Easter.
They estimate that this will be one of the hottest Aprils ever recorded - with many likely to be throwing a few burgers on the barbecue and donning shades as the bank holiday gets under way.
On Tuesday St James's Park in London was hotter than Rome and Athens, with temperatures of 25.4C.
But if you're heading off for the bank holiday you may want to sort out some decent breakdown cover - as standing around by the side of the road will be no replacement for the garden or beach.
And the good weather is here to stay, according to experts who say that fine, dry weather is likely to hang around until next week.
The South East will see highs of 25C and temperatures will remain in the low to mid-twenties into early next week, bringing joy to millions of revellers over the bank holiday break.
The rest of the UK will also see a sustained period of dry, sunny weather, with the mercury rising to well-above the average for the time of year.
Alison Cobb, forecaster at MeteoGroup UK, the Press Association's weather division, said: "If we continue to get these temperatures then it is looking like this April is going to be very close to the record set in 2007 where the maximum average temperature was 18.9C.
"It is going to stay warm for the remainder of the week with large amounts of sunshine in most places."
