Britain outshines the Costa Del Sol as thousands flock to the coast

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As Good Fridays go, it was one of the best - providing you hadn't opted for a holiday on the Costas.

Under clear blue skies, families headed for the beach as temperatures reached 20C (68F) on parts of the South Coast, significantly warmer than Spain.

In the North, temperatures remained closer to the average for the time of year at about 12C (54F).

But by Monday most of the country should be enjoying weather several degrees above normal and overall it should be the finest Easter weather since 1997.

Tony Burdess, from the Met Office, said: 'It will be dry and warm throughout the Easter holiday and in some areas temperatures will reach 20C.

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Brighton rocking: Thousands throng the beach with a volleyball tournament in full swing

"There is an area of high pressure over all of the UK which is keeping the fine weather going."

Crowds thronged the pebbly beach yesterday in Brighton, where a volleyball contest was held in a special sanded area.

Along the coast at Bournemouth, more than 3,000 deckchairs and 1,000 sun loungers were hired, while 50,000 ice creams were enjoyed or dropped on the sand.

Most of the resort's hotels and B&Bs were displaying 'fully booked' signs by mid-morning.

In Devon, Malcolm Bell, chief executive of South West Tourism, said a quarter of a million visitors would be staying in the county for Easter with a further million coming on day trips.

With the tourists came the inevitable traffic jams. Accidents caused delays on the M2, M4, M5, M6, M25, M40 and A1(M).