Odds cut on record-breaking summer

Daffodils were in full bloom in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, yesterday as Britain basked in more warm sunshine yesterday and bookmakers cut the odds on a record-breaking summer.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Apr 2010, 23:02 BST

Updated 11th Apr 2010, 23:03 BST

The spring sunshine provided respite after the coldest winter for 30 years and a washout over the Easter weekend. According to Meteogroup, the weather division of the Press Association news agency, Saturday was the hottest day of the year so far. Yesterday the temperature in Leeds and York was 57F (14C), but it was cloudy on the coast.

Aisling Creevey from Meteogroup said it would say dry into this week.

"There is high pressure above us and there's plenty of solar heating, no clouds and light winds so it's quite easy for the temperature to rise," she said.

Bookmaker Ladbrokes cut the odds of the highest temperature recorded in the UK – 38.5C (101.3F) – being beaten this summer to 5/1.

William Hill put the odds of temperatures exceeding 100F (37.8C) at 6/1 as the bet became more popular among customers. Picture: Gary Longbottom.