PUT on your shades, dust down your barbecue and slap on the sun cream because this weekend is a scorcher.Summer is here at last and the country is basking in the heat of the warmest days of the year so far.

By Jo Macdonald

PUT on your shades, dust down your barbecue and slap on the sun cream because this weekend is a scorcher.

Summer is here at last and the country is basking in the heat of the warmest days of the year so far.

In fact the temperatures are so high Suffolk is soaking up temperatures that far exceed those in mainland Europe.

The highest temperature in the country yesterday was recorded at RAF Honington, near Bury St Edmunds – and weather experts say the temperature will keep on rising for the next few days!

While holiday makers in Spain and Italy are enjoying heat in the low 80s Fahrenheit, people in Ipswich are lapping up the mid-80sF.

Evening Star weatherman Ken Blowers said: "It's now classified as that very rare word…hot!

"The highest temperature yesterday was 84F (29C) and it's similar today, if not a degree or two higher.

"Ipswich is hotter than Barcelona where its 80F (21C) and it's hotter than Rome where it's 82F (28C)."

He added that this weekend is by far the hottest of the year so far and is hotter than any time since last August, when temperatures mid-month peaked at 86F (30C). And it is set to continue into next week.

Mr Blowers said: "There's no sign of a break yet. It's going to be gloriously sunny."

The Met Office confirmed the forecast and, like Mr Blowers, said that thunderstorms would at some point be likely as a result of the humidity.

Ewen McCallum, Director of Forecasting at the Met Office, said: "Many people have been disappointed by the summer but it looks like the school holidays will start with the warmest spell of the year so far.

"Nights will be hot and sticky and there is a risk of thunder next week but overall the steamy summer evenings look ideal for a barbecue."

With such good weather like this it is a time for getting out of the house and seeing what the region has to offer – and there's plenty to choose from.

There's an International Country Music Festival at the Suffolk Showground all weekend, there's a chance to join in the crabbing competition in Walberswick tomorrow, and tonight The Magnets and the Royal Jubilee Festival Symphony Orchestra will be entertaining a crowd in Christchurch Park.

All this for is just for starters. There has never been a better weekend for finding out what's going on.