The unseasonably warm weather is set to continue this week with forecasters predicting temperatures of up to 17C.

Many parts of the UK were basking in warm spring sunshine on Monday, with Exeter recording the highest temperature by 3pm with 15.1C (59.2F), well above the 10C (50F) average for this time of year.

The forecast will do little to ease fears over the drought in the south east and East Anglia, with no significant rainfall expected.

Aisling Creevy, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "Temperatures are above average in most places."

North Yorkshire and Teesside both reached 14C (57.2F), while Aberdeenshire enjoyed unusually warm conditions with 13.2C (55.8F).

The mercury hit 14.2C (57.6F) at Kew Gardens in London.

Creevy said: "It's really quite warm and pleasant in the sunshine. It's very settled.

"It's going to be pleasantly mild over the coming days. We could see some 17C (62.6F) by Thursday in the south east depending on mist and fog.

"The weekend looks set to be a little bit more unsettled, turning a little bit chilly. The high pressure looks to be breaking down and moving on eastwards."