Record breaker
Bank holiday belter
IT was the real Great British Bake Off yesterday – as the country sweltered on the hottest early May bank holiday ever recorded.
Revellers flocked to beaches, rivers and parks to cool down as temperatures topped Spain, Florida and even volcanic Hawaii.
A mercury-busting 28.7C was registered in London, the highest since details of May breaks started being kept 40 years ago.
The heatwave extended as far as North Yorkshire, where daredevils took the plunge into a pool in the River Swale at Richmond. Beaches including Bournemouth and Lyme Regis were rammed.
At Brighton people sipped soothing cups of tea under towels, but there was no respite from the scorching heat for armed police on patrol.
A historical re-enactment ended in an unexpected swim for “King Charles” at Audley End House in Essex when his horse bolted and chucked him in the lake. In London, a long queue dotted with zany giant inflatables formed outside Brockwell Lido while deckchairs were out in force in all the capital’s parks. It is forecast to stay sunny but cooler until rain on Friday.