Hundreds flock to first car boot sale after lockdown-easing
The REALLY Great Outdoors! Britain is set for week of spring sunshine with balmy 62F highs as millions head out to enjoy new freedoms after lockdown
- Britain will bask in sunny weather and temperatures up to 62F in places following a winter spell last week
- Parts of north west England and Scotland are at risk of rain but forecasters believe afternoon will be pleasant
- Comes on first weekend with restrictions on beer gardens and outdoor dining being relaxed across England
- Hundreds have made their way to the coast as well as shopping centres and returning to car boot sales
Britons are basking in glorious sunshine today with temperatures set to hit 62F as people make the most of their new-found freedoms with the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Sunseekers in England and Wales had plenty of blue skies this morning at the start of a mini-heatwave as they decided to spend Sunday outdoors.
Hundreds were seen turning up to a popular car boot sales on grassy fields at the Skylark Garden Centre in Cambridgeshire and at Lyndhurst in the New Forest.
Others got back enjoying outdoors sports including rowing on the River Avon in Warwickshire and horse riding on the Dorset coast.
It comes after people in England enjoyed their first weekend nights out since restrictions were eased on beer gardens and outdoor dining.
Restaurants and pubs across the country were booked with some seeing their busiest day of trading in years on Friday.
Police officers were out in force across London and other cities to keep an eye on al-fresco drinkers, and even shut off Primrose Hill to avoid groups congregating for late-night parties.
The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of rain in north west England and over Scotland as a band of wet weather moves in from the Atlantic but the outlook otherwise has proven to be mainly fine.
Britons are basking in glorious sunshine today – with temperatures set to hit 17C. Pictured: A person paraglides over the cliffs above Bournemouth beach in Dorset
People enjoy the warm weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset
The locals are out an about enjoying the sunshine in Coventry’s War Memorial Park today where spring has arrived
Flowers are pictured in bloom in the sunshine in Coventry’s War Memorial Park today
The south west coast path is busy with visitors walking to Durdle Door in Dorset as they enjoy the warm spring sunshine.
Beachgoers flocked to the coast today at Durdle Door in Dorset
Blue skies were seen all round in Durdle Door in Dorset while locals sunbathed
The car park is busy at Lulworth Cove in Dorset as visitors flock to the coast to enjoy the warm spring sunshine.
Britain is enjoying in a mini-heatwave over the next few days, with temperatures soaring away from the frosty spell that hit the country earlier this week. Pictured: People enjoy a punt tour past King’s College on the River Cam in Cambridge
Britons were expected to knock back a staggering five million pints and 500,000 bottles of wine on Friday, with the spending spree set to fill the tills of the depleted hospitality industry to the tune of £100million
Britons are basking in glorious sunshine today – with temperatures set to hit 17C. Pictured: Hundreds of bargain hunters have turned up at a Popular Cambridgeshire car boot sale at the Skylark Garden Centre in Wimblington today as weather conditions proved perfect
Large crowds of bargain hunters were out visiting Tynemouth Market in North Tyneside this lunchtime
Sunseekers in England and Wales had plenty of blue skies this morning as they decided to spend Sunday outdoors at car boot sales, down on the coast or getting back into restaurants and pubs for the first time in months. Pictured: A New Forest car boot sale today near Lyndhurst
Rowers were out exercising along the River Avon beside Warwick Castle this morning
Horse riders make the most of the warm spring weather and gently trot through farmer’s tyre tracks in a yellow rape seed field near Christchurch in Dorset
The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of rain in north west England and over Scotland as a band of wet weather moves in from the Atlantic but the outlook otherwise has proven to be mainly fine. Pictured: St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick
The spell of good weather comes as people in England enjoyed their first weekend nights out since restrictions were eased on beer gardens and outdoor dining
Police officers were out in force across London and other cities to keep an eye on al-fresco drinkers, and even shut off Primrose Hill to avoid groups congregating for late-night parties
The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of rain in north west England and over Scotland as a band of wet weather moves in from the Atlantic but the outlook otherwise has proven to be mainly fine
A forecaster said: ‘Parts of northwest UK cloudy with occasional rain or drizzle. Elsewhere a frosty start for many inland areas, but then plenty of sunshine and light winds.
‘This helps temperatures bounce back, and it should feel pleasantly warm by afternoon.’
London and parts of the south east are expected to get the best of the weather today through to Tuesday, with forecasters predicting temperatures around ’16 or maybe 17C’.
A spokesperson for the Met Office said: ‘As we go into Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday we could see temperatures reach 16 to 18C in southern parts of England and Wales.
‘The north is going to be a bit colder. We’ve got cold air coming down the north of the UK on Sunday, with northerly winds picking up through Monday.’
The weather has been a boost for pubs and bars with beer gardens bustling on Saturday as people were able to return.
Britons were expected to knock back a staggering five million pints and 500,000 bottles of wine on Friday, with the spending spree set to fill the tills of the depleted hospitality industry to the tune of £100million.
Revellers however had to wrap-up in more than just a beer jacket when they hit the pubs and bars, as they will have to remain in outdoor areas under current Covid rules with temperatures in London drop to 5C on Saturday morning.
The steps to the beach are busy with visitors enjoying the warm spring sunshine at Durdle Door in Dorset
The car park is busy at Durdle Door in Dorset as visitors flock to the coast to enjoy the warm spring sunshine
People were spotted out walking to Durdle Door in Dorset as they enjoy the warm spring sunshine
The local’s are out an about enjoying the sunshine in Coventry’s War Memorial Park today where spring has arrived
Revellers have been getting back in pub beer gardens after changes in restrictions this week meant they were allowed to start serving customers for the first time in 4 months. Pictured: Pubgoers on Wimbledon Common
Police forces have upped patrols across the country as the lockdown has been eased during warm weather. Pictured: The sea front at Bournemouth in Dorset
People enjoy a punt tour along the River Cam in Cambridge where temperatures are set to high 16C tomorrow
People walking in St Nicholas’ Park in Warwick with the castle in the background. Today the town is basking in 14C sunshine, with temperatures set to climb to 17C tomorrow
A family enjoy a ride on a pedalo along the River Avon, in Warwick
London and parts of the south east are expected to get the best of the weather today through to Tuesday, with forecasters predicting temperatures around ’16 or maybe 17C’
A forecaster said: ‘Parts of northwest UK cloudy with occasional rain or drizzle. Elsewhere a frosty start for many inland areas, but then plenty of sunshine and light winds’
Friday was the first weekend night where pubs and bars across England were allowed to open – albeit only for outdoor drinking – since October last year
Cyclists cross a bridge over Flechs Water near to the village of Brockenhurst in the New Forest
But with large crowds of partygoers ignoring social distancing rules and not wearing face masks, police have been stepping up their patrols in busy areas, vowing to take action against those who ‘dangerously flout the rules’ and urging business owners to ‘act responsibly’.
Met Police said beauty spot Primrose Hill in north London would be temporarily closed every night at 10pm and then reopened the following morning with officers breaking up groups after ‘recent incidents of anti-social behaviour’.
The Royal Parks, a charity that looks after London’s eight historic parks, also tweeted: ‘This weekend Primrose Hill will be closed to the public from 10pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings until the following morning.
‘This is a short-term solution to deal with the persistent anti-social behaviour and disruption to the local neighbourhood.’
Social media users reacted to the decision, with one posting: ‘A sad but necessary consequence of the rave parties being held there.
Britons were expected to knock back a staggering five million pints and 500,000 bottles of wine on Friday, with the spending spree set to fill the tills of the depleted hospitality industry to the tune of £100million. Pictured: Soho in central London
Britons have already been busy cramming into streets and outdoor seating areas this week after the Government eased restrictions on the hospitality industry on Monday
Pubs and bars in England can now open outdoor seating areas to welcome back groups of up to six people, or two households
Indoor seating will not be allowed until at least May 17 under the Government’s current roadmap out of lockdown
Wales will keep its pubs shut until April 27, as will Scotland. Pubs and cafes can reopen in Northern Ireland for outdoor service on April 30, and indoors from May 24. Pictured: A waiter serves a pitcher of beer to customers sat at an outdoor table of a re-opened bar in the Soho area of London
‘Hopefully these people will find somewhere else to go and allow those of us who love Primrose Hill for the peace and quiet and the views – something the ravers don’t give a toss about – can enjoy it again.’
Another wrote: ‘What a shame that there are idiots these days who want to ruin all the nice things we have.
Friday was the first weekend night where pubs and bars across England were allowed to open – albeit only for outdoor drinking – since October last year.
Britons have already been busy cramming into streets and outdoor seating areas this week after the Government eased restrictions on the hospitality industry on Monday.
Pubs and bars in England can now open outdoor seating areas to welcome back groups of up to six people, or two households. Indoor seating will not be allowed until at least May 17 under the Government’s current roadmap out of lockdown.
Wales will keep its pubs shut until April 27, as will Scotland. Pubs and cafes can reopen in Northern Ireland for outdoor service on April 30, and indoors from May 24.
