UK Weather: Met Office accidentally issues snow warning as country basks in temperatures of 21.5C

Weather service says a 'technical error' made test warnings appear on their website

The Met Office blunder came as temperatures soared to 21.5C (PA)

As Britons basked in the sunlight on the hottest day of the year so far, the Met Office put out a warning to expect a dusting of snow.

An amber warning was issued for snow across London and the South East just as the mercury hit 21.5C.

The weather service quickly retracted the warning blaming a “technical error” for making test warnings appear on their website and apps.

The sunshine is expected to reach its peak on Sunday with London could see temperatures of 26C - higher than parts of Italy, Spain and California.

Emma Sharples from the Met Office said in contrast to the snow and frost last weekend, there is a lot of "fine and warm weather expected for the weekend across much of the UK".

"This weekend we have the winds coming from the south and southeast, which is where the warm continental air is coming from," she said.

"But it is not all going to be completely dry and settled.

"As we head through Friday night and into Saturday there is some showery rain that will spread up the western side of the UK - through Northern Ireland and into western Scotland.

"We may also see some potentially heavy and thundery downpours developing over parts of the West Midlands and into Wales."