Record-Breaking Britain Hotter Than Mexico

Sun worshippers have been basking in more record-breaking weather - as Britain felt its hottest end of September in more than 100 years.

The previous record for September 30 was set in 1908 - 27.8C in Maidenhead.

The mercury has already risen to 29.2C in Cambridge this afternoon trumping the Costa del Sol, Turkey, Cuba and Mexico.

There were reports that many Britons had taken "sickies" off work to peel off in parks, gardens and on the beach.

Many others were preparing to head for the coast this weekend, sparking a huge increase in hotel bookings.

Yesterday saw temperatures as high as 28.8C, making it the hottest September 29 since 1895, when the mercury peaked in York at 27.5C.

Meanwhile, Saturday could become the warmest day ever for October if it peaks at above the 29.4C reached on October 1, 1985, in Cambridgeshire.

Sky weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said it would remain "exceptionally warm" into the weekend.

"We could beat the record high for October. The highest temperatures are probably likely to be in the north of London," Ghaffar said.

Temperatures will cooler in the north west of the UK and are expected to dip slightly across all of England on Sunday - but are likely to remain as high as 26C or 27C.

Monday should remain warm, with temperatures starting to return to normal on Tuesday.

Yesterday, Finningley in South Yorkshire and Northolt in London were the hottest places in the country.

Other highs were recorded in the East Midlands, the Norfolk coast and Jersey.

Sky's Catherine Jacob , reporting from Scarborough, said tourist chiefs were expecting a deluge of extra visitors this weekend.

"Beautiful, gleaming, sunny - you could be in the Riviera but this is Scarborough," Jacob said.

"It's hard to believe that by this time next week we will be back to the usual October rain and cloud."

The unusual weather even appears to be confusing plants with flowers coming out to bloom for a second time.

Night-time temperatures are also exceptionally high. Last night's 17C compares to normal daytime temperatures for September.

Despite the mini heatwave, officials at Plymouth City Council have ordered seven of its gritters to be on standby from Saturday .

The council said it does not want to be caught out by unexpected weather.