Britain basked in hottest day of the year so far — but one market town still had its Christmas lights up
BRITAIN basked yesterday in the hottest day of the year so far — but one market town still had its Christmas lights up.
Temperatures hit 28C in London and the South East, and 25C in the Midlands.
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Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland largely topped 20C too — on a par with holiday hotspots such as Ibiza and Benidorm.
Today is set to be hotter still, peaking at 30C and giving us the hottest start to May on record.
Meanwhile, streets in Ramsey, Cambs, remain bedecked with unlit fairy lights four months after the festive period ended.
A golden crown decorates council offices, there are shooting stars on lamp posts, and a large Merry Christmas sign at the library.
The volunteer-run Christmas light committee says its hasn't got the money for a cherry picker to get them down.
Ex-chairman Lisa Renfree said: 'The committee runs on a very tight budget and tries to keep the costs down so it can use the money on the actual decorations.
'If they don't have to pay out for a cherry picker, which is expensive to hire, they can spend more money on lights for the residents to enjoy.'
Decorations are traditionally removed on Twelfth Night, early in January, and it is considered bad luck to leave them up longer.
Deputy chair of the committee Jade Aubin said they hope to remove the lights this weekend.
Elsewhere families flocked to beaches, parks and riversides.
Scots flock to park & beaches to bask in sizzling temperatures
Sunseekers found balmy Bournemouth a great spot for selfies while Pontefract, West Yorks, was a double for the Dutch thanks to tulips and a mini-windmill.
Two year old Rowan Walton has fun building sandcastles at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside.
And trippers enjoyed a cooling dip at Brighton's pebble beach.
Today's temperature could top the 27.4C May 1 record set in Lossiemouth, in Moray, Scotland in 1990.
Met Office Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: 'It will be the warmest day of the week. Overnight temperatures will also be very high in places. It's possible national and station records for daytime and overnight temperatures may be broken.
'The far North will always see cooler conditions, with these more seasonal temperatures likely spreading erratically south later in the week.'
Temperatures will gradually start to fall over the Bank Holiday weekend to around average on Monday.
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