WARMER THAN CORFU 23°
and
MILLIONS flocked to beaches, parks and pub gardens yesterday as Britain basked in spring sunshine hotter than Corfu.
But there was misery on roads, railways and in the air during the first Easter with no Covid rules since 2019.
The transport network was stretched to breaking point with train cancellations, gridlocked motorways and lengthy airport queues.
Yet the troubles could not cool the warmest weekend of the year so far.
Temperatures hit 23C in the South East, Midlands and Wales while the
Greek holiday island of Corfu had to settle for just 22C.
Holiday firms say a record eight million Brits have made for staycation hotspots in a £2billion boost for the economy. And there was no shortage of
cash changing hands in the nation’s pubs – with 85 million pints set to be drunk over the bank holiday.
Rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages says bookings are up 75% on 2019 – with boss Graham Donoghue adding: “Spurred on by the promised heatwave, more people than ever have made lastminute bookings.”
The rush came amid warnings that Brits heading abroad could face months of travel disruption.
Passengers have been caught up in huge queues at airports as thousands of flights were cut due to staff shortages.
Around two thirds of the UK’S 33
million drivers could venture out this weekend. Stretches of the M6, M25, M3 and M20 were badly congested and the M4 was shut in both directions between junctions 13 and 14 after a fire at a pyrotechnics factory near Newbury, Berks.
The closure of key parts of the West Coast mainline due to engineering works added to the problems.
Seaside resorts have ramped up car parking charges in a new blow to families taking staycations. Today will remain dry but temperatures will dip to slightly below 20C across England and Wales.