SUFFOLK got a real touch of summer today as temperatures soared to 21C (70F) on the hottest day of the year.As the UK basked in temperatures higher than in the Mediterranean, forecasters predicted a sunny and dry run-up to the Easter weekend.

SUFFOLK got a real touch of summer today as temperatures soared to 21C (70F) on the hottest day of the year.

As the UK basked in temperatures higher than in the Mediterranean, forecasters predicted a sunny and dry run-up to the Easter weekend.

Temperatures were rising to as high as 25C (77F) in Britain today, matching Cyprus and beating Greece, Italy and coastal Spain.

But forecasters were warning the British weather could have a real sting in the tale – 45 days of dry weather could be broken with rain on the bank holiday weekend!

Although the sun is set to stay out until Saturday, temperatures are predicted to dip as cooler winds from the east replace the warm blast from the Sahara that is currently warming the country.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers, said: "Things are going crazy. Temperatures are reaching a maximum that is the average for the middle of August.

"A warm south-easterly air stream from the continent is the chief cause of the unusual heat wave."

Yesterday the temperatures reached 19C (66F) and we have now been without any appreciable rainfall for the last 39 days.

So farmers and gardeners will be having a tough time of it as their plants begin to wilt through lack of moisture.

But it is not a good time to take a plunge at Felixstowe like the children in our picture.

The North Sea is still very cold at the moment and the water temperature is a chilly 8C (47F). The temperature never gets warmer than 17C (62F) in the height of summer as the body of water takes such a long time to heat up.

The dry and sunny weather was set to last until Good Friday with cooler weather predicted for Easter Saturday and rain setting in on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Ice cream sellers, gearing up for the Easter weekend, will have their work cut out by a surprise rush as people getting a little hot under the collar rush to their stalls for some cooling refreshment.

Sun seekers should be out in force in parks and promenades to bask in the freak weather.

Easter Saturday is predicted to be noticeably cooler with some brisk winds across the southern half of the country.

Some spells of rain will set in on Easter Sunday with heavy rain predicted for Bank Holiday Monday.

The forecasts for a wet Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday come as it was revealed that a record 1.8 million people were expected to travel abroad for Easter.

The best places to spend the Bank Holiday weekend in the UK are predicted to be western Scotland and Northern Ireland, which are expected to stay drier and avoid the worst of the rain on Monday.

The AA said it expected 18 million motorists to take to the roads over the holiday period, with the busiest time being from mid-afternoon on Thursday to the end of Good Friday.