4:22pm UK, Friday May 16, 2008

The first half of May was the hottest on record in Britain and things could heat up again by the Bank Holiday weekend.

Brighton beach earlier in May

Temperatures hit a high point of 27.5C at Great Malvern in Worcestershire and the average temperature was 14.9C.

The last time May was even nearly as warm was in 1992 with average temperatures of 12C.

But forecasters warned the weather is likely to stay cooler for around a week before picking up again by next weekend.

That means the sunshine should be arriving just in time for the Bank Holiday.

Sky weather presenter Isobel Lang said: "As a May goes, it was quite a spectacular spell - and it wasn't just a southern thing.

"People weren't just flocking to beaches, the weather was great in Scotland and northern parts too."

Temperatures could return to the low 20s by the end of next week, but that change may also bring rain to western areas.

Lang said temperatures are definitely picking up again but cooler nights could lower the average temperature for the second half of the month.

"Even with average temperatures in the last two weeks, it could still be one of the warmest Mays of the last 100 years," she added.

As for this weekend, Lang said: "After a dismal start, it is going to become sunnier.

"It will definitely perk up with sunshine. But no heatwave this weekend, in fact some chilly air coming in from the north."