Britain prepares for weekend of sunshine

Britain is expected to bask in warm temperatures this weekend as the mild weather which has already made the UK hotter than parts of mainland Europe and Africa in the last few days continues. Temperatures rocketed to 28ºC (82.4ºF) in Bournemouth on Friday, making it the hottest day of the year and putting Barcelona in the shade, as the Spanish city could only manage 25.3ºC (77.5ºF). Kinlochewe in north-west Scotland peaked at 27.7ºC (81.9ºF) yesterday and at Heathrow Airport temperatures reached 25.7ºC (78.3ºF). By comparison, Athens in Greece reached 24ºC (75.2ºF) while Casablanca in Morocco could only manage a meagre 22ºC (71.6), though Europe is also experiencing above-average temperatures. Events that will benefit from good weather in the UK this weekend include the continuation of the Olympic Torch relay through south and west Wales, reaching Aberystwyth on Sunday night, and the last day of the Chelsea Flower Show on Saturday. Train companies are gearing up for an increase in passengers of up to 25% in some parts of the country this weekend as hundreds of thousands of sun-seekers head to seaside resorts and beauty spots. Edward Welsh, from the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc), said: "We are expecting thousands of families and sun-worshippers to pack their buckets and spades, straw hats and sunglasses, and catch the train to seaside resorts." It will be the middle of next week before temperatures begin to fall significantly towards the seasonal average, according to MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association. Some parts of the West Country could see some showers during the weekend, although they may die away again before the end of Sunday.