Some faced a choice between sun and football

Coupled with the World Cup, the hot weather saw sales of beer, burgers, barbeques and ice cream rocket.

The sunshine is expected to continue into Sunday, although temperatures are expected to be slightly lower.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs had warned there could be smog - and levels were put at between medium and high.

Sun or football?

BBC Weather forecaster John Hammond said: "It's been the hottest day of the year, with temperatures of 29C in a number of places, including London.

"On Sunday we don't expect it to be quite as hot - probably 27 or 28C (81F or 82F)."

The cooler trend is expected to continue over the next few days, although it will remain sunny.

The hot spell was lapped up by sunbathers keen to escape the England-Paraguay football match.

Bar manager Nick James, 30, was one of dozens of sun seekers in Castle Park in the centre of Bristol.

"I've no interest in the football at all. I would much rather be out here enjoying the sunshine," said Mr James.

'Exceptional'

There was busy trade too in Britain's seaside resorts.

Teresa Fusciardi, from an ice cream parlour in Eastbourne, East Sussex, said the beaches had been packed all day and people were still there at 1930 BST.

"It has been one of the busiest days of the year and has been exceptional on the ice cream side," she said.

Big screens around the country gave football fans the chance to enjoy the televised matches without missing out on the sunshine.

Supermarkets said sales of summer and barbeque goods had rocketed compared with the same time last year.

Sun tan lotion sales were up 300%, according to supermarket Asda.

Sales of disposable barbeques were up 185%, beer 150%, sausages 94%, beef burgers 88% and ice cream 60%.

An Asda spokeswoman said: "It has been a case of summer madness. I think it is a combination of amazingly hot weather and the World Cup sending sales rocketing.

"We are struggling to keep shelves stocked with beer - it is absolutely flying off the shelves."

Tesco is expecting to sell 15m barbecues, 54m ice lollies and 5m cases of beer during the World Cup.