Coastal resorts in Tendring are set for a bumper Easter weekend.

Temperatures are expected to reach record levels and some guest houses and hotels already fully booked.

Terry McKean, chairman of the Clacton Hoteliers and Guest Houses Association, is looking forward to seeing the town come to life.

Mr McKean said the 58th Clacton Hockey Festival which attracts thousands to the coast had also helped to boost numbers.

He said: "We expect it to be quite good because the weather is on the way up and the Balkan crisis has meant people are less likely to go away this year."

Walton and Clacton piers will also be hoping the weather remains fine over the Easter weekend.

Mr McKean added: "The weekend for us is traditionally busy and we're keeping everything crossed for Easter Monday."

Mark Baird, Clacton Pier's general manager and press officer for Tendring Tourism Group, said: "We are all looking forward to it. We had a really good last weekend and we are all geared up and ready to go."

He added visitors would be able to try the new white-knuckle ride Skymaster.

Britain is set to bask in unseasonal warmth tomorrow as temperatures soar to make it one of the hottest April Fool's Days this century.

An expert at the independent PA Weather Centre said some parts of England might reach temperatures of 22 degrees C or more, breaking the record for the first day of April which stands at 22.6C.

The Weather Centre spokesman said: "We are taking bets on how hot it is going to be, but it is pretty certain it will be somewhere between 20C and 22C.

"We have had several April days in the past which have reached up to 29C but it is very unusual for temperatures to be so high at the beginning of the month."

The spokesman added: "In general we are expecting the weather to stay warm and dry in most parts of Britain for the Easter weekend."

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