Sun worshippers are enjoying the unseasonable heat

People with breathing disorders, such as asthma, are warned to take care, especially in the South East.

The UK is currently enjoying warmer weather than in the Mediterranean, ahead of the Easter weekend.

Temperatures were predicted to rise above Greece, Italy and coastal Spain.

Alex Deakin, broadcast meteorologist at the BBC Weather Centre, said temperatures would reach 26C (80F) in parts of the UK, such as Worcester and Cheltenham.

Scot hot spot

"That is hotter than much of the Mediterranean, but it's going to get a lot cooler over the next few days.

"It will stay fine with lots of sunshine, but temperatures will fall off and by Sunday, we will notice a big difference and could be struggling to get 10C (50F)."

Rain is expected on Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, when the best place to find the sun will be Western Scotland.

But the hot spell comes at a price.

In pictures: UK basks in sunshine

Scientists from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) say people with breathing disorders may suffer from high levels of ozone over the next couple of days.

Ozone is produced when sunlight reacts with polluting gases created mainly by vehicle exhausts.

The high levels in London and the South East are expected to last until Friday evening.

Asthmatics are being advised to carry their inhalers with them.

And all people with breathing difficulties are being advised to avoid taking outdoor exercise in the afternoon.

Air quality minister Alun Michael said: "We can all help reduce the current high levels of air pollution by avoiding making unnecessary short car journeys wherever possible.

"By walking, cycling or making use of public transport instead, we can all help to improve current air quality."

Easter getaway

Despite the heatwave, 1.8 million people are expected to leave Britain for the Easter bank holiday weekend.

And if last year's figures are repeated, 2.6 million Britons are set to holiday in the UK and spend an estimated �400m.

The AA expects 18 million motorists to take to the roads over the holiday period, with traffic peaking from mid-afternoon on Thursday to the end of Good Friday.

The Highways Agency has promised to keep roadworks on England's motorways and trunk roads to a minimum over the holiday, but the AA warned that many major routes would be extremely busy.