October half-term to kick off with HOT weekend

PA

Families and holidaymakers looking to enjoy the last break before Christmas will be excited to know the week is set to start with temperatures of up to 20C.

Sunday 23 October is set to be the sizzler, say the Met Office, who are predicting above-average temperatures for the entire week.

Dan Williams from the Met Office told the Daily Mail: 'There will be some showers, mainly in Scotland and the West, and the sunshine will be brightest in the South East.

'On Sunday it will be fine and dry with unseasonably mild temperatures for this time of year, with London and South East reaching 20C.

'However, there will a risk of gales in exposed locations, and the weather will continue to be unsettled throughout the week, with a mixture of sunshine and showers expected in most regions.

'The rain will be heaviest in the West and South West, with strong winds expected but above average temperatures.'

The good forecast will surely only add to travel chaos, with 15 million cars expected to hit the roads.

Four million UK trips will be made by Brits heading off on staycation over the next week.

Sarah Long of VisitBritain said: 'October half-term is an important week for the tourism industry and a great opportunity for people to enjoy the best that the country has to offer.'

As usual, a spokesman for Network Rail advised travellers to check their website before heading off on a train journey, adding that engineering work will be taking place at various sites, 'just like any other weekend'.

Airports are also expected to be rammed, with BAA predicting over 215,000 passengers will pass through Heathrow.

And the top half-term long-haul hotspots? New York, followed by Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam and LA.


Sign up to our weekly newsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a fan on Facebook