Pubs and parks in Swindon were humming with crowds of people out enjoying the scorching temperatures today.

Temperatures hit highs of 25C by the afternoon as people flocked to well-known sun-spots like Coate Water and Town Gardens to enjoy the weather and cool off.

Pete Boardman, from Kent Road, said: “Today I basically got up bright and early and did a speed walk out to Waitrose and got some tuna steaks that I’m going to put on the barbecue later.

“Today we’ve got our gardening seed swap on Kent Road and then I’m just going to chill in the back garden.”

The Met Office is forecasting near-record breaking temperatures for the UK tomorrow with a chance of highs of 24C in Swindon. Elsewhere the heat could top 27C, making it one of the hottest May Day weekends on record.

The warmest-ever May bank holiday was recorded on May 6 1996 at Cheltenham when temperatures reached 28.6C.