If you're not jetting off on holiday for the Easter weekend, don't despair as the tropical weather is coming to the North East.
A chilly spell which brought frost and blustery winds is due to break by the Easter weekend - and it could be even hotter than some holiday destinations.
Temperature highs of 18C have been forecast on Saturday and Easter Sunday, warmer than the predicted highs of 15C in Athens and 16C in Madrid.
As sunseekers plan to go away over the coming weeks, the UK could also be hotter than St Tropez in the south of France, Corfu, Bodrum in southern Turkey and the Spanish island of Majorca which is to be cloudy on Saturday and Sunday.
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The dry, warm weather back home will be welcomed by parents making outdoor plans during the school holidays and workers ready to relax in the garden.
The mercury will steadily rise throughout the week to give a dry and warm bank holiday weekend across much of the country, according to the Met Office.
Forecaster Simon Partridge said Good Friday will be pleasant with temperatures in the mid-teens for the North East.
Spells of warm, bright sunshine are then expected to dominate on Saturday and Sunday.
Mr Partridge said: "After there was a chilly spell this weekend, we are going to see temperatures gradually increase through the week.
"By the weekend we could see in parts of the country temperatures of around 20C, or just above."
However it's not all good news for those making plans for the long weekend.
Bank holiday Monday is predicted to be a washout with persistent rain showers all afternoon and evening with highs of 15C.
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