25C SUNDAY ROAST
Britain set for hottest ever Easter day as 7.4 million plan holiday getaways
EASTER Sunday could be the hottest ever as temperatures are tipped to top 25C.
Some areas will enjoy better weather than many Med resorts, and 7.4 million people plan a UK getaway to make the most of it.
The Met Office said: “The record for Easter Sunday is 25.3C and some areas might see that.”
Drivers were urged to set off early today to beat the rush.
SOARING temperatures promise a really Good Friday and a cracking Easter weekend as the country basks in a mini heatwave.
With parts of the country hotter than Saint-Tropez, Bodrum and Majorca, tourism bosses predict the biggest Easter holiday rush in six years.
Some 7.4 million plan an overnight break somewhere in the UK – up from 4.8 million last year and the most since VisitEngland began its survey in 2013.
The staycation surge will bring a £1.8billion boost to the economy as shops, restaurants and hotels enjoy a bumper weekend. VisitEngland boss Patricia Yates said: “Holidaying at home continues to be a great choice.”
Temperatures are expected to widely reach the low 20s celsius and peak at around 25C in the South.
Met Office chief meteorologist Steve Willington said: “With temperatures usually around 10-13C at this time of year, it’s going to be significantly warmer than average this Easter.”
While tomorrow is unlikely to break the record for Holy Saturday, 29.4C in 1949, Sunday is in with a shout.
A Met Office spokesman said: “The record temperature for an Easter Sunday is 25.3C and it’s possible some areas might see this Sunday.”
Bookmaker William Hill odds of 8/1 for a record Easter weekend temperature. Spokesman Rupert Adams said: “Easter is going to be a scorcher.”
The traditional Easter roast lamb could be shunned as families fire up barbecues instead. Waitrose predicted sales of summer foods to soar. But health chiefs warned those basking outdoors should ensure babies and children have adequate sun protection.
The early blast of summer will be a welcome start to the 18-day break many canny workers are starting today – using just nine days’ leave stretching to the May Day Bank Holiday before returning to work on Tuesday May 7.
Beaches and parks were already busy yesterday as early holidaymakers made the most of the sunshine.
Today is due to be the busiest day of the big getaway and motorists are urged to set off early or delay travel until tomorrow to avoid the worst jams.
Around 4.4 million car journeys for leisure trips will be made today, clogging major routes, research by the RAC and Inrix says. The worst delays are due
to be between 11am and 4.30pm. Highways England said it will remove over 450 miles of roadworks in time for Easter, leaving 99% of motorways and major A-roads in England free of cones.
Drivers face the highest Easter petrol prices in five years. The average cost of a tankful is up by over £2.40, the AA says.
Tailbacks up to an hour are expected on some routes as rail engineering works add to congestion.
London Euston station is closed for the four-day weekend, with much of the busy West Coast Main Line out of action. The Great Western line between London and Cardiff will be shut near Bristol, adding an hour to the journey between London and Cardiff.
Network Rail said fewer passengers use trains during bank holidays than on working days, but admitted there is “never an ideal time to shut the railway for our must-do work”.
VisitEngland said shutting rail routes on public holidays will cause disruption and damage the economy.
Some 2.1 million holidaymakers are expected to go abroad this weekend, said travel trade association ABTA – with strong demand for destinations including Spain, Turkey and Egypt. EasyJet said it will have 1.4 million passengers in what is set to be its busiest ever Easter getaway. Airports, ferry terminals and the Channel Tunnel will be extremely busy. ABTA boss Mark Tanzer said: “Leave plenty of time to get to your departure port and check for engineering work and line closures on public transport.” Last night firefighters were battling a moorland blaze at National Trust site Lyme Park in Disley, Cheshire. At Lyme Regis in Dorset, two bald eagles were being used to defend the beach from aggressive seagulls.
■ Smog yesterday hit densely populated areas after days of warm, still weather.