SUN worshippers were lapping up the rays in York and North Yorkshire yesterday, as the hottest day of the year so far saw temperatures rise above 28C.

Popular hotspots included the Museum Gardens, parks and banks of the River Ouse in York.

Today is expected see the mercury reach 30C in some parts, but forecasters said that by evening the hot weather could be broken by thunder and heavy showers.

Forecaster Paul Mott, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said there would be heavy showers and localised thunder storms spreading east across England tomorrow with Wednesday proving colder than average at 20C.