'Exceptionally mild' December weather set to continue

Parts of Britain will continue to enjoy unseasonably warm weather today, after some areas reached double-digit temperatures overnight.

Forecasters have said temperatures continue to be "exceptionally mild" for December and could reach 16C (60.8F) in the London area.

Overnight, Exeter Airport reached 13.2C (55.8F), according to MeteoGroup - just shy of the record high for this time of year.

The Met Office said yesterday that it was the fourth mildest start to December across the UK since 1960.

Despite a band of rain heading over Britain from the west today, the Met Office said temperatures are around 7C above average.

A Met Office spokesman said: "Temperatures continue to be exceptionally mild today - it is going to be feeling 14C (57.2F) to 15C (59F) in most parts of the country.

"In Scotland, it will be around 12C (53.6F) to 13C (55.4F).

"It is definitely staying like this towards the weekend and will be mild through Friday and on Saturday especially, with temperatures up to 15C (59F) or 16C (60.8F)."

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said there is a moderate risk of dust from the Sahara settling across parts of the UK.

Carried over from the African desert by southerly winds, it will largely affect parts of the South East and London.

The rest of the UK faces only a mild risk from the pollution.