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BRITS flocked to beaches across the UK as temperatures rocketed to 23C - with the mini heatwave set to continue.

The UK is enjoying wall-to-wall sunshine over the Bank Holiday with the mercury hitting the mid-20Cs yesterday.

🔵 Read our UK weather live blog for the latest forecasts

Ladies enjoying an al fresco day in the sunshine in Victoria Park, east London
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Ladies enjoying an al fresco day in the sunshine in Victoria Park, east LondonCredit: LNP
Two women, Caitie and Issy, enjoying a day trip to Bournemouth beach
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Two women, Caitie and Issy, enjoying a day trip to Bournemouth beachCredit: BNPS
Bournemouth beach at the start of the bank holiday weekend with people out enjoying the heat on the Dorset coastline
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Bournemouth beach at the start of the bank holiday weekend with people out enjoying the heat on the Dorset coastlineCredit: w8media
People making the most of the warm weather in Bournemouth, Dorset
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People making the most of the warm weather in Bournemouth, DorsetCredit: Alamy
People punting on the River Cam in Cambridge on a sunny Saturday morning
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People punting on the River Cam in Cambridge on a sunny Saturday morningCredit: Geoff Robinson
Brits enjoying a workout session on the beach as temperatures reach into the 20Cs
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Brits enjoying a workout session on the beach as temperatures reach into the 20CsCredit: Alamy
Visitors enjoy a warm day at Brighton seafront bars as people start to arrive for the Bank Holiday weekend
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Visitors enjoy a warm day at Brighton seafront bars as people start to arrive for the Bank Holiday weekendCredit: Alamy
Families setting off for a day at the beach
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Families setting off for a day at the beachCredit: w8media
Morning traffic going southbound between Clevedon and Weston Super Mare Junction is at a standstil as motorists head off for their Bank Holiday Weekend
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Morning traffic going southbound between Clevedon and Weston Super Mare Junction is at a standstil as motorists head off for their Bank Holiday WeekendCredit: Alamy

And the warm weather is set to continue over the next few days - with Monday predicted to hit a scorching 25C on the hottest day of the year so far.

Brits packed out beaches across the coastline on Saturday to enjoy the sunshine after weeks of rain and strong winds.

Families flocked to Bournemouth beach, while tourists were seen sunbathing on punts down the River Cam in Cambridge.

And in Lyme Regis, Dorset, Brits arrived in their dozens to make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend in the balmy weather.

Cleo Leilani Khan enjoys the weather on St Annes beach in Lancashire
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Cleo Leilani Khan enjoys the weather on St Annes beach in LancashireCredit: Dave nelson
Punters share drinks on the River Cam
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Punters share drinks on the River CamCredit: PA
Car parks fill up at West Bay in Dorset
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Car parks fill up at West Bay in DorsetCredit: ©Graham Hunt
Bournemouth beach basks in the sunshine
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Bournemouth beach basks in the sunshineCredit: Alamy
Two women take a stroll through Newcastle's Quayside
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Two women take a stroll through Newcastle's QuaysideCredit: NNP
A couple cool down with an ice lolly as temperatures rise
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A couple cool down with an ice lolly as temperatures riseCredit: NNP

Heading into Sunday, the weather will pick up for most areas in the UK as Brits will be able to bask in sunshine and enjoy a warm Bank Holiday.

Temperatures reached 23C in London on Saturday and are expected to hit 24C in Manchester and Liverpool on Sunday.

But Britain is bracing for its hottest day of the year so far on Bank Holiday Monday.

The mercury is tipped to reach 25C, meaning it would surpass the current high for 2021, which was 24.5C recorded in Kew Gardens on March 31.

Met Office forecaster Alex Deakin said: "Sunglasses, sunhat and sun screen definitely required this weekend.

"Finally, some warm sunshine on offer this May after what has been a very, very chilly month."

A busy beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset
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A busy beach in Lyme Regis, DorsetCredit: Graham Hunt/BNPS
Brits are basking in the warm weather on the long weekend
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Brits are basking in the warm weather on the long weekendCredit: Graham Hunt/BNPS
Mercury is set to hit the mid-20Cs this Bank Holiday weekend
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Mercury is set to hit the mid-20Cs this Bank Holiday weekendCredit: ©Graham Hunt
Sunshine is forecasted across the UK this weekend - as the weather begins to finally feel warmer
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Sunshine is forecasted across the UK this weekend - as the weather begins to finally feel warmerCredit: MET OFFICE
Sunrise over the fishing boats in the English Channel
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Sunrise over the fishing boats in the English ChannelCredit: Bav Media
People enjoying the sunshine in Cambridge
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People enjoying the sunshine in CambridgeCredit: Geoff Robinson
A busy Kings Cross as passengers get away for the long weekend
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A busy Kings Cross as passengers get away for the long weekendCredit: LNP
People enjoy the hotter weather on Weston-super-Mare beach
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People enjoy the hotter weather on Weston-super-Mare beachCredit: SWNS

He added: "We will start the weekend with a lot of cloud and for some it will be a bit damp and dreary, initially, certainly over the Midlands, parts of Wales and the west coast of Scotland, but that rain should be fizzling out through the morning.

"Most places will steadily brighten up but it could take a while.

"Some places will be cloudy into the afternoon, but generally it is turning sunnier as the day goes on."

Spring has been plagued by thunderstorms and gales, a stark contrast to the balmy sunshine this time last year.

Wales has suffered its wettest May on record, with figures going back to 1862 - and there's still another week of the month to go.

The beach is busy with sunbathers and holidaymakers who flocked to the seaside resort of West Bay in Dorset
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The beach is busy with sunbathers and holidaymakers who flocked to the seaside resort of West Bay in DorsetCredit: ©Graham Hunt
The public enjoy the sunny weather on Primrose Hill, north London
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The public enjoy the sunny weather on Primrose Hill, north LondonCredit: LNP
People out enjoying the heat on the Dorset coastline
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People out enjoying the heat on the Dorset coastlineCredit: w8media
Lads enjoying the warm weather
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Lads enjoying the warm weatherCredit: BNPS

Dorset, Bristol and eastern parts of Scotland have also been particularly hard-hit by downpours.

Across the UK as a whole, it has been the tenth wettest May on record, according to figures from the Met Office. 

Met Office forecaster Matthew Box said the news would be a "welcome change" for many.

He said: "Given that we have had a reasonably cold and then a wet couple of months through spring, with April being cold and May being wet and cloudy and generally on the cool side too, we've got a sunny end to May."

The warm weather is set to continue for the first half of June as the Met Office's long-range forecast predicts the heatwave will stay for up to two weeks.

MOMENT IN THE SUN

The first week will see the warm, settled conditions we see this weekend continue.

According to the latest graphs, temperatures are set to hover around 20C until mid-June due to a band of hot weather hitting the country.

And for the second week above average temperatures remain, however there will be some showers.

The bright spell is set to see millions of cooped-up Brits flocking to the coast in the coming months - with this summer tipped to be the busiest on record for beachgoers.

It is now odds-on with Ladbrokes the UK sizzles in highs of 25C during the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Odds of just 4/6 are on offer that the thermometer hits 25C this weekend during the extended break from work.

Jessica O'Reilly of Ladbrokes said: "Brits looks set to bask in the sunshine all weekend, kicking off a week-long heatwave of scorching temperatures."

The beach is packed with families and sunbathers enjoying the sunshine and cooling off in the sea
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The beach is packed with families and sunbathers enjoying the sunshine and cooling off in the seaCredit: ©Graham Hunt
Sunbathers and holidaymakers flock to the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset
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Sunbathers and holidaymakers flock to the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in DorsetCredit: ©Graham Hunt
The public enjoy the sunny weather in Victoria Park, east London
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The public enjoy the sunny weather in Victoria Park, east LondonCredit: LNP
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