UK weather: Britain to be hotter than Mediterranean as public warned not to break lockdown rules

Wall-to-wall sunshine has scored the UK its sunniest spring since records began in 1929, but as the country faces its hottest day of the year so far on Sunday, people are reminded that lockdown rules still apply when heading out to enjoy the warm weather.

The Met Office said that by Wednesday, the UK had clocked up 573 hours of sunshine. Only nine other springs on record have topped 500 hours of sunshine.

It is also on track to be the driest May on record for some parts of the UK, particularly in the south of England.

UV levels are also very high throughout this weekend, which will see temperatures reaching 28C in parts of northern Scotland and 25C in Cardiff and London - warmer than a host of Mediterranean holiday destinations including Ibiza, Monaco and Barcelona.

Met Office Nicola Maxey said: “There is little in the way of rain on the forecast for the next few days.

“It’s going to be sunny and warm and temperatures are going to continue rising into the weekend. On Sunday, the last day of the month, we could even see the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures creep up.”

The blazing weather is bound to draw Britons out into parks, beaches and other beauty spots over the weekend. But police have warned that it remains illegal to socialise in groups of more than two in public under coronavirus lockdown rules.

In England, people are currently only allowed to meet one person from another household on their own. However, the laws are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The prime minister announced earlier this week that lockdown rules will be eased to allow gatherings of up to six people, but the new changes will not come into force until Monday.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), said: “There is still a responsibility on us all to abide by the regulations set in each part of the UK, and to follow public health guidance as best we can when out and about.”