PHEW what a scorcher!Suffolk enjoyed the hottest day of the year on Sunday, with people packing the region's parks and beaches.The temperature over the weekend got as high as 29C, or 84F, - that's as hot as in Corfu and Barcelona.

Tom Potter

PHEW what a scorcher!

Suffolk enjoyed the hottest day of the year on Sunday, with people packing the region's parks and beaches.

The temperature over the weekend got as high as 29C, or 84F, - that's as hot as in Corfu and Barcelona.

No doubt Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his family were basking in the coastal sunshine - and they weren't the only ones.

It was the hottest it has been in the Ipswich area since July 28, 2006 when temperatures pushed 85F.

Evening Star weather expert Ken Blowers predicted the heat would continue for at least the next few days but with it will come the chance of thunderstorms.

He said: “The hot and humid weather will continue but there will be a risk of thundery showers and storms.

“There has been little wind at all with wind speed only reaching as high as 10 mph.

“If the weather is calm it adds to the heat and humidity and storms can develop locally.”

A risk of rain is expected in most parts of the country this week and while the sunshine will remain, showers are expected to be thundery on Wednesday.

The Met Office predicts it will get progressively cooler during the week.

A spokesperson said: “On Monday evening temperatures will start coming down and maybe some heavy showers continuing into Tuesday.

“Temperatures will go down to the mid 20s on Tuesday and for the rest of the week.”

How did you stay cool over the weekend? What's the hottest temperature you've ever had to endure? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk