Residents and visitors alike have been making the most of a glorious run of spring sunshine, with Brighton beach packed with sunbathers, paddlers and picnickers over the weekend.

Yesterday (Sunday, April 26) saw the seafront busy and bustling, with the sun firmly out and temperatures reaching the high teens.

Saturday was similarly pleasant, with sunshine breaking through high cloud and a maximum of around 17°C. It was the continuation of a pleasantly warm run of recent weather.

The warm spell began in earnest in the first week of April, when a ridge of high pressure pushed temperatures across the south-east to levels not seen in the first half of the month for 80 years.

A busy Brighton beach on April 26 (Image: Eddie Mitchell)

Although a brief cooler, unsettled period followed, high pressure re-established itself across the south, and the second half of April has brought a return of warm, largely dry and bright conditions along the Sussex coast.

But how long is the sunny weather going to last?

Today (Monday) Brighton is enjoying another fine day, with sunny spells and a high of 19°C, according to the Met Office — though rain is expected to arrive this evening .

Tuesday will be the week’s blip, with cloud and outbreaks of light rain bringing a cooler high of around 16°C.

People celebrating on the beach yesterday (Image: Eddie Mitchell)

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From Wednesday onwards, the Met Office is forecasting a return to fine, dry and sunny conditions: Wednesday reaches 19°C with virtually no rain risk, Thursday peaks at a very pleasant 20°C under clear skies, and Friday should stay largely dry at 19°C.

The upcoming Bank Holiday weekend looks pleasant too, though there is a growing chance of showers by Sunday, suggesting the settled spell may be nearing its end .

So if yesterday’s pictures of a sun-drenched Brighton beach prompted a bout of good-natured envy, take heart — there are still plenty of reasons to head back down to the seafront this week.