PEOPLE enjoyed the sunshine today as the country enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far.

The Met Office recorded the highest temperature of 29.1C at St James's Park in London on what was the hottest day in April since 1949.

In Usk temperatures reached 24C, which was the highest recorded temperature in Wales, making it officially the warmest day if the year.

In Gwent temperatures were high throughout the region and reached around 24C in Monmouth, while the temperature reached 22C in Newport, Ebbw Vale and Blackwood.

People might have had trouble sleeping tonight thanks to the warm night as temperatures will only fall to 9C overnight.

Fog is expected tomorrow morning, but the weather is set to stay warm until Sunday when it will start to cool with temperatures of 14C.

However, the good weather is not expected to last as rain is forecast for later next week as the temperature continues to fall.

In Pontypool park there were lots of people enjoying the sunshine.

Sue Beese from New Inn took a walk with her granddaughter and was one of the many people enjoying the weather.

"It's nice to have some warm weather after the long winter," she said. "It really lifts your spirits."

"We do have hot weather in April in the past, but it has been very late this year."

As a result of the warm weather hay fever sufferers may have noticed the rise in the pollen count thanks to the good weather.

However, the MET Office said that only hay fever sufferers who are affected by birch and ash tree pollen were affected.