Phew, what a scorcher! Mass exodus to the coast in 30C heat

PA

The hottest May temperatures for 20 years have triggered a weekend rush to beaches all over the UK as shellshocked Brits show their determination to make the most of the sun.

The Met Office forecasts "unbroken" sunshine and temperatures could reach high as 30C this weekend in the south east. Even in the north west and the south west of Scotland, the mercury looks set to push 28C.

PA

PA

Forecasters are agreed that high temperatures will continue right into next week with sunshine all over the UK.

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Tourism is getting a welcome boost. Hotel bookings in Bournemouth have soared by 25 per cent,and tens of thousands of day trippers are expected to flood in.

The promise of a barbecue weekend has seen supermarkets stocking up on sausages and zoos issuing cold lollies to over-heated animals. Don't miss our picture gallery of animals keeping cool below!

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After weeks of pessimistic forecasts for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, some forecasters have even dared to suggest that the sunshine may continue. Speaking in the Daily Mirror, Leon Brown from the Weather Channel said: "We could see some very warm weather across western Europe late next week and over the Bank Holiday weekend."

And Netweather forecaster Paul Michaelwhite said: "It's hot, hot, hot - and there's more of the same to come. Summer has most definitely arrived."

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