Britain basks in Easter sunshine

Sunshine and high temperatures prompted thousands to head outdoors to make the most of Easter Sunday. Temperatures in many parts reached 20C when 12C is more usual for this time of year.

Resorts were packed and so were many of the roads into them, especially in the South-east. The junction of the M25 and M23, to Brighton, was heavily congested as Londoners headed south.

The heat should last into today and another warm spell is forecast for next weekend.

A record 2.5 million Britons went abroad for Easter, mainly to Spain where temperatures were lower. In the US,record low temperatures are being predicted for the east and midwest, and snow has been forecast for Ohio, Michigan and New England.

In Chicago, the maximum temperature on Saturday was 0C when the average temperature for early April is 12C.