Beaches were busy in north and south Wales

Visitor attractions were also enjoying a busy time with weather forcasters predicting the mini-heatwave would last for several days to come.

Tourism operaters say the summer season has already got off to a good start and have their fingers crossed the sunshine will remain for much of August.

At Pembrey Country Park on the south Wales coast visitors started arriving early to book their pitch on Cefn Sidan sands.

In Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire it might be we are doing it right at last Colin Rouse, Carmarthenshire Tourism Association

"There's a fair few people about," said a spokeswoman.

"We are expecting a busy day and a good week if the weather remains as it is."

It was a similar situation in north Wales.

A spokeswoman for the toursist information centre in Rhyl said: "It's very busy today.

"There are lots of people on the beach with buckets and spades.

"The sun has brought a lot of people out."

Temperatures could each the mid 30s by Wednesday

Guest houses and hotels are also reporting a busy time.

Colin Rouse, chairman of Carmarthenshire Tourism Association, said feedback from members suggested it was shaping up to be a good summer season.

He said the majority of visitors to west Wales appeared to be on short term breaks but added there were more continental Europeans in the region than previous years.

He said there were probably about half-a-dozen reasons why visitor numbers were up.

"It might be we are getting somehere with our marketing.

"In Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire we have made a lot of investment in that area and it might be we are doing it right at last."

Temperatures in parts of south Wales reached as high as 27C on Sunday.

Weather forcasters are predicting they will get even higher during the week, possible as high as 33C.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "By midweek, temperatures look like reaching the mid-30s in some parts of the country.

"The sunshine will be dangerously strong, with heat stress a distinct risk to both humans and animals alike.