A SCORCHING weekend that brought thousands of daytrippers to North and East Yorkshire saw temperatures peak at 27.5C (81.5F) in York.

And the sun is expected to shine on for the next few days.

On Saturday, more than 38,000 racegoers flocked to the Knavesmire and enjoyed blue skies and temperatures of 22.5C (72.5F).

The attendance was the second highest recorded during the 44 years of John Smith's sponsorship.

Yesterday it was even hotter, with temperatures in York reaching 27.5C. The hottest spot was Barbourne in Worcestershire, which reached a high of 30C (86F).

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said it had been a very good weekend for York.

She said the city had been busy on Saturday and yesterday, with most of the city's hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation booked up.

Weather experts were today predicting the hot weather will be with us until the middle of the week.

Temperatures of 25C to 26C are expected in York and North Yorkshire over the next three days.

Parts of East Yorkshire will be a little cooler, with a breeze that will bring temperatures down to 20C to 22C.

Top temperatures were expected in London and the south east, where it could climb to 31C today and tomorrow.

That could top the hottest weather seen so far this year - 30.5C in Shepshed, Leicestershire, on June 22.

The weather will deteriorate later in the week.

Updated: 10:46 Monday, July 14, 2003