SLAP on the suntan lotion, dust off the shades and get ready to enjoy the hottest weekend of the year.

Temperatures are set to soar in Hampshire this weekend giving residents a chance to start their Easter holidays bathed in sunshine.

Temperatures are expected to jump to 23C (73F) in parts of the country on Sunday making it the warmest day of the year so far.

But theMet Office is forecasting highs of 16C in Southampton on Sunday and 15C on Saturday.

Forecaster Greg Dewhurst said: “It is likely on Sunday we will see further sunshine for many parts of the UK.

“In the sunshine across England and Wales we will see temperatures above average for this time of year, above 18C or 19C.

“In south east England we could see highs of around 23C.

“It will be a lovely weekend for much of England and Wales, but in Northern Ireland and Scotland it will turn a bit cloudier.”

As previously reported by the Echo, Southampton residents enjoyed a particularly warm spring last year too, with many sunbathing in parks across the city and queueing for ice cream at the Mayflower Park.

The warm weekend will dissolve back to average temperatures on Monday morning, when the mercury is expected to drop back to 12C in Southampton.

The April’s blast of heat follows the mildest March on

record last month, when the month welcoming in the spring recorded its fifth-equal warmest outing since 1910.

Those enjoying the sunshine this weekend are invited to upload their pictures to the Daily Echo website along with their names and contact details.