Record-breaking start to holiday

Londoners have sweltered as the temperature hit 31C The UK's hottest day in May for more than 50 years has kicked off the bank holiday weekend, but forecasters are warning of unsettled weather ahead. In London temperatures reached 31C - the hottest May day since 1953. But in Edinburgh, Scots had to shiver in a cold, rainy 10C. The Met Office said rain and hazy conditions would affect the south on Monday, with top temperatures only in the mid-teens. The last time that we had a temperature over 30C in May was in 1953 BBC weather spokeswoman A spokesman for the RAC told BBC news that Friday morning roads were relatively quiet for the start of a bank holiday weekend because the hot weather had prompted many people to take the day off work. He said there were no reports of any major delays expected, though jams were likely around coastal resorts if the weather remained sunny. Overheating But the AA said an estimated 18 million cars would be on the road and it was increasing its patrol numbers by a fifth. "Drivers may get caught out if they do no preparation for their journey, especially if they get stuck in queuing traffic, as this is when cars, like us, are more likely to overheat," spokesman Gavin Hill-Smith said. "Five minutes spent checking things like your car's coolant and oil levels, battery, tyre tread and pressures really can help prevent problems from arising." The record of 31C was recorded at the BBC's London Weather Centre on Friday afternoon. Coastal traffic jams are expected if the hot conditions remain A BBC weather spokeswoman said: "The last time that we had a temperature over 30C in May was in 1953, when it reached 31.7C at Heathrow and Farnham." The bank holiday comes as the number of UK beaches failing European water quality tests has doubled, according to the Good Beach Guide findings just released. Airports operator BAA said officials were expecting a steady weekend, with more than 1.78m passengers due to pass in and out of their seven airports. Top destinations included New York for Heathrow passengers, and Spanish resorts such as Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Gerona from Gatwick and Stansted. Train disruptions The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) said more than 2.1m people were expected to travel abroad over the weekend, saying Spanish resorts were the most popular. But other destinations, including Turkey, Egypt and Florida, were also proving attractive. "The summer season gets into full swing this weekend and we are looking forward to a bumper number of bookings," said Abta president Martin Wellings. Train passengers are advised to check the National Rail website before booking tickets, as many services are being disrupted by engineering works. Source: bbc.co.uk