THE sun has got his hat on – and this bank holiday is set to be a scorcher.

Thousands of people will flock to Hampshire this weekend with temperatures due to soar to 21C, equalling the hottest day of the year so far.

Met Office forecaster John Hammond said the county was going to get a taste of summer over the bank holiday.

He said: “It’s looking like Hampshire will have a lot of dry and bright weather for the bank holiday weekend.

“Certainly temperatures will be around the 18C or 19C mark, and the wind is going to be very light so it will feel warm.

“In particularly sheltered areas it could even creep up to about 21C.”

Daily Echo: Weather’s hotting up but mind the beaches

He added: “Monday is looking a bit more uncertain and there might be a few clouds, but the emphasis will be on fine weather for the majority of the weekend.”

However, there won’t be as many good beaches to enjoy the fine weather from as there were last year.

The Marine Conservation Society’s Good Beach Guide, released today, revealed the number of beaches in the south it endorses has dropped from 66 per cent to 58 per cent.

MCS coastal pollution officer Thomas Bell said: “The results reflect last summer's heavy rain which swept waterborne pollutants like raw sewage, petro-chemicals and farm waste into rivers and the sea. Nationwide, the MCS is now recommending 25 per cent fewer beaches than three years ago .”