After what may have seemed like a long winter for many, the UK is set to get a blast of balmy weather with temperatures soaring above 20C in some parts.

According to the Met Office, on Thursday (April 2), some regions of the nation could enjoy higher temperatures than the Costas in Spain, with the mercury rising to 21C.

London, southern and central England and Wales will see the highest temperatures hovering towards the late teens, but it will be cooler in the north, Scotland and Northern Ireland with norms closer to the low to mid teens.

The Met Office has advised Brits not used to the sudden sunshine to remember to take care with their skin protection, with the nationl weather agency warning "UV levels higher than we’ve been used to over winter, it can lead to sunburn".

In a statement it said: "April begins with sunshine for many, with temperatures in parts of southern England possibly reaching 21C on Thursday.

"With high pressure becoming established this week, the start of April will be warm and sunny across the UK. After light rain clears the north of Scotland on Monday, there will be a consistently dry spell of weather for the whole of the UK.

"With the area of high pressure situated to the northeast of the UK, there will be a strong breeze across the southern half of the UK through the start of the week.

"In windward coastal areas this will make things feel a little cooler as the sea surface temperatures have yet to recover from their coldest time of the year."

The Met Office shared NHS advice on skin protection for those who may be vulnerable to the changes. It said: "Spring sunshine is something many of us look forward to, but we can sometimes see higher levels of UV."

According to the NHS website, sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy.

The NHS said: "There's no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects. Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight."

Sun safety tips

People should spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.

Make sure you:

• spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
• never burn
• cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
• take extra care with children
• use at least factor 30 sunscreen