IT MAY be sunny on this picture of a hot York city centre, but forecasters today moved to dampen any expectations you may be cherishing about a "scorcher" of a Bank Holiday.

Despite most of North Yorkshire getting sun-drenched yesterday, PA Weather Centre played down national speculation that we could be in for record temperatures this weekend.

Experts there said the forecast was "nothing to write home about".

A spokesman added: "The highs for Yorkshire are on Saturday, when we'll see temperatures of 23 degrees celsius, 73 fahrenheit. Sunday drops to 21C (70F), and Monday is down again, to 19C, (66F).

"Saturday will stay mainly dry, with a ten per cent chance of showers. Sunday starts cloudy, but brightens up and turns fresher, again with a chance of an early shower.

"Monday will offer plenty of sunny spells, and it will stay mainly dry."

But legendary Thirsk forecaster Bill Foggitt said he was still getting his hopes up for a warm weekend.

"There'll be mist at the start of each day," he added.

"Always a good sign. And I think this nice spell will continue. I was watching the sun yesterday evening, and it was so brilliant, I thought it was going to just shine on all night.

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, August 23, 2001