SUN worshippers will be whipping on the suncream over the next two weeks as temperatures climb into the 20s in the first heatwave of the year.

Yesterday families flocked to Coate Water to make the most of the sunshine and enjoy the summer weather.

Laura Titcombe, a mum-of-five from Peatmoor, was just one of the people who had come along with her children.

The 39-year-old said: “It’s a lovely place to come with the good weather and bring the kids along.

“It would be much better if it wasn’t so windy. It’s supposed to be getting warmer towards the end of the week so I’m looking forward to that.”

Kelly Fisher and her dad Clive were also visiting Coate Water with Kelly’s son, 17-week-old Freddie.

Clive, 63, said a warm summer would be good for morale in the centenary year of the First World War and the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

He said: “We’re so lucky to have places like Lydiard Park and Coate Water. When you are younger you don’t really notice them but when you get a bit older you realise that they are lovely places for the public to go and relax.”

Kelly said: “It’s nice to come here in the sun. Everything looks better as well in the sunshine and it just makes you feel good.”

A spokesman from the Met Office said: “We are expecting some warmer weather over the next few weeks.

“The temperatures are higher than average for the time of year but it’s not unusual. We’re in June now and the beginning of the British summer when you can expect temperatures to be higher and for it to be dry for some days and for them to fall again for some days when it rains a little.

“Temperatures are expected to increase to about 22 degrees by the end of the week and the trend of warm temperatures with some patchy cloud is a trend that is expected to continue into next week.”

Today the Met Office forecasts highs of 18C with patchy cloud, and tomorrow temperatures are expected to increase to 21C.

On Friday temperatures will soar to 22C and on Saturday the sunny weather will continue with highs of 20C.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser in the Department of Health, said in the foreword to this year’s Public Health England’s Heatwave Plan: “Although many of us enjoy the sunshine, as a result of climate change we are increasingly likely to experience extreme summer temperatures that may be harmful to health.

“The purpose of this plan is to reduce summer deaths and illness by raising public awareness and triggering actions in the NHS, public health, social care and other community and voluntary organisations to support people who have health, housing or economic circumstances that increase their vulnerability to heat.”

To see Public Health England’s advice on keeping well in the heat, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england.