UK weather forecast: Sunshine set to continue as Brits urged to use 'common sense' after high temperatures draw crowds outside

Authorities are urging Brits to adhere to social distancing guidelines this week amid a prolonged bout of fine weather which tempted people outside in large numbers over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Crowds flocked outdoors on Monday , with images emerging of packed beaches and reports of congestion piling up around beauty spots.

Sunbathers and swimmers were seen descending on beaches around Southend-on-Sea, Bournemouth, Formby, Weston-super-Mare and Margate, among others.

Long stretches of traffic were also seen at the Yorkshire Dales, while walkers were also out enjoying the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In the capital, police were called to a lido in north London following reports of one large group gathering.

The developments prompted concerns that a coronavirus lockdown rule specifying people must remain two metres apart from anyone outside their household was at risk of being flouted.

With schools in England, Scotland and Wales on a half-term break this week, large numbers of people are meanwhile expected to keep emerging from lockdown amid the warm conditions predicted in the coming days.

The Met Office has forecast mostly dry and warm weather across the country for Tuesday, with the mercury in London expected to reach 25C.

There will be more warm weather in the south, where hundreds of people took to Bournemouth beach on Monday, prompting a tweet from the local council reminding people there were “other less busy but equally lovely open spaces to enjoy”.

Aside from some rain for the far north and north-west on Wednesday, for the rest of the week the weather in most parts of the country will be dry, largely sunny, and very warm, the Met Office said.

Following a recent relaxation in lockdown restrictions, people in England are now permitted to meet up with one person from another household outdoors, as long as two metres distance between them is maintained.

Unlimited exercise and sitting outdoors is also now allowed.

But despite the slight easing of restrictions, the Government and the police have urged people to continue to follow social distancing guidelines while councils have warned people to stay away from beauty sports due to fears of overcrowding.

“Please use common sense when it comes to social distancing,” the Metropolitan Police’s Hillingdon branch tweeted.

While new cases and deaths from coronavirus have fallen nationally, a hospital in Somerset was forced to close this weekend due to a high number of Covid-19 patients.

Weston General Hospital, in Weston-super-Mare, stopped accepting new admissions, including into its A&E department from 8am on Monday.

As the hospital shut as a precautionary measure, some residents in Weston reported concern over high numbers of people enjoying a day at the seaside.

Two people died in separate incidents along the Cornwall coastline after warnings RNLI lifeguards would not be able to patrol Britain’s beaches.

It is hoped lifeguard patrols will return to 70 beaches, which will be chosen based on risk and popularity, by peak season.

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