Millions to go abroad as UK heatwave ends

An estimated 3.4 million people are expected to pass through the gates at Heathrow airport during the two-week holiday over Easter.

Numbers are expected to peak this Friday with many people looking to head abroad for guaranteed sun over the Easter break. In Britain, the mercury hit 23C on Monday, marking the hottest day of the year so far.

Forecasters have put the unseasonably warm weather down to high pressure and fronts coming over from north Africa and the Mediterranean, but have warned that it won't last, with temperatures set to fall back to about 12C by the weekend. 

Met Office forecaster Rebecca Sherwin told the Daily Mail: "The weather is reasonably unusual for this time of year.

"We've got high pressure sat over the UK at the moment, causing very settled weather. It means the day warms up very quickly in the morning."

For those holidaymakers who are not prepared to put up with temperatures of around 16C as thing things pick-up once again during the middle of next week, short-haul flight destinations such as Spain and France are said to be the most popular options.