A drizzly bank holiday - but there's a heatwave on the way!

Most of us experienced a pretty damp bank holiday, with grey skies and high winds ruining plans for picnics and barbecues around the country.

But don't despair just yet - because the Met Office says there's warmer weather on its way.

A band of high pressure will take charge by Thursday and we should start to see changes, according to a spokesman.

'Temperatures will be in the mid 20s - above average for June - and the good weather should last well into the weekend,' he predicts.

The news will be welcomed by anyone hoping to have some outdoor fun during the latter part of half term week.

But for now, overcast skies and rain are the name of the game.

For many, Bank Holiday Monday has been a bit of a washout from north to south. Holidaymakers in Tynemouth (pictured) had to keep their brollies up on the beach, and in Bournemouth, Dorset, too, thousands of optimistic visitors had to endure drizzle and clouds.

East Anglia saw the best of the day although even in the sunniest spots temperatures struggled to reach 19C.

The winds will pick up, especially in the north of England, making it seem even colder.

Only on Thursday will the sun come out in force, with good weather expected throughout the weekend and into next week.

This weekend's gloomy weather is still not enough to prevent spring 2011 going down in history as the hottest since records started in 1659.

Click on the image below to see some of the weirdest weather around the world in the past year.

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Another four-day bank holiday on its way!