NORDIC longships on the River Ouse basked in glorious weather today as the Jorvik Viking Festival set sail.

Freak weather was ensuring temperatures - as well as ships - were racing on the hottest-ever Valentine's Day in North Yorkshire.

And Blue Peter's newest presenter, Konnie Huq, got hot under the collar striking a pose in the clutches of amorous Nordic warrior Enyelf to mark the opening of the festival.

Temperatures were expected to soar back into the 60s today, warmer than many traditional hot-spots in the Mediterranean.

They touched 16C (61F) in the York area yesterday - warmer than Rome, Madrid and Los Angeles and equal to Corfu, Cyprus and Majorca. Konnie joined Peter's Pillagers, a mixed crew of sixth-formers from St Peter's School, York, for the annual race from Ouse Bridge to Skeldergate Bridge.

The races attract crews of Viking enthusiasts from far afield, including teams from Norway with wooden longships.

It was 22-year-old Londoner Konnie's first visit to York, and though she spent most of it on the river filming, she was impressed by the sights and by the weather.

Meanwhile, Eric the Viking was taking a break today at the opening of a new "Kit Kat" caf at the Jorvik Centre in York.

Eric Bloodaxe was joined by Lord Mayor Mick Bradley to snip a ribbon of Kit Kat wrappers at the entrance following a major refurbishment at the top attraction.

Intended to catch visitors - with a free mini Kit Kat with every cup of coffee - as they leave the Jorvik Centre, the snack caf is a joint venture between Nestle and the York Archaeological Trust.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.