Doctors' orders: enjoy the sunshine while you can

Lee-on- the- Solent in Hampshire enjoyed glorious weather yesterday (PA)

There's more than just a tan to be gained by getting out in the sun, according to Arthritis Research UK. The charity has urged people to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather this week to top up their levels of vitamin D, for which the main source is exposure to sunshine.

As Britain welcomed the official arrival of summer time and lighter evenings after the clocks went forward yesterday, Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire was the warmest place in the UK at 22.3C – a Scottish record for March.

The Met Office predicted that the fine, dry weather would last for the rest of this week, although forecasters said the UK record temperature for March of 25.6C was not under threat.