Hotting up

These weekends are invariably damp squibs – literally. Just occasionally, they’re sun-blessed – and the weather, thankfully, is set fair for this Easter. The only cloud on the horizon appears to be the spectre of smog because conditions are so becalmed. And while sailors and surfers might lament the stillness of the wind, the dry weather is a blessing for Yorkshire’s coastal resorts, and national parks, as they brace themselves for bumper crowds – provided, of course, that motorists successfully extricate themselves from the tailbacks on the now notorious A64.

This is good news for a tourism industry which has seen financial margins squeezed. However, given the extent to which Yorkshire’s visitor attractions find themselves at the mercy of the elements, it is worth congratulating the Met Office for forecasting – and accurately – a fine Easter, and to hope that this heatwave extends to the Royal Wedding celebrations.