A good weekend to catch the sun

Fishermen at Amroth beach in Wales were among those enjoying the gorgeous spring weather yesterday as Britain prepares to enjoy the warmest weekend of the year.

As the coldest winter for 31 years is officially past, forecasters are predicting that temperatures in some parts of the country could exceed those in Rome and Los Angeles.

According to the Met Office, the mercury in London could reach as high as 2C tomorrow, resulting in sweltering conditions for the thousands of runners in the London Marathon.

Most of the south of the country should enjoy temperatures of between 18C and 21C all weekend. By contrast, the Italian capital is expected to experience a 20C high; in Los Angeles, the temperature is expected to reach 21C.

Closer to home, the hottest temperature recorded so far this year was 20.4C in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, on 11 April.