TEMPERATURES in the region topped most countries on the continent yesterday as Britain experienced one of its hottest April days.

People basked in the glorious sunshine as thermometers reached 72F (22C), a heatwave that put Britain on a par with the Bahamas and Las Vegas.

In Europe it was a bit more chilly with Turkey experiencing temperatures of 52F (11C), Greece 63F (17C), Spain 64F (18C) and Italy 64F (19C).

The last time temperatures as high as that were recorded in April in Newcastle was in 1987, towards the end of the month.

The average temperature for this time of year is about 54F (12C), but warm winds from the Mediterranean have created conditions more like a fine summer's day.

"It's definitely one of the hottest days the North-East has had at this time of year since we started recording daily temperatures in the region in the seventies," said Met Office spokesman Sean Clarke.

"But it is not going to last so people should have made the most of it yesterday because it is all down hill from here."

The downside of the unseasonal weather was an increase in ground level ozone - or smog - in the South-East of the country.

Weather forecasters expect the cooldown to start today with temperatures dropping off considerably for the Easter weekend. They are forecasting between a chilly 46F (8C) and 60F (10C) between Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Mr Clarke said spring was getting hotter generally as a result of global warming.

He added: "People are generally happier when the sun is out, but it does mean there will be problems in the future with rising sea levels and more droughts during the summer.

"Based on our records and what our computer predictions show, we are going to have some milder winters and some very hot summer days."