Attractions bathed in Easter sunshine on bumper weekend

It’s been glorious – and has given our outdoor attractions a flying start to 2019. But normal service will be restored from tomorrow.

Children taking part in an egg rolling competition to see who can get it closest to the Easter Bunny

The West Midlands saw soaring temperatures and cloudless skies over the long Easter weekend, and attractions across the region benefited.

Crowds enjoying the attractions at Black Country Living Museum this weekend

Children take part in the egg rolling challenge at Black Country Living Museum

Families flocked to Black Country Living Museum this weekend

The Met Office recorded a high in the Midlands of 22C (72F) on Sunday, and the mercury stayed above 20 until about 7pm.

With similar warm sunshine yesterday and today, attractions say they have been overwhelmed with visitors.

At the Black Country Living Museum, the attraction has enjoyed its most busy Easter break on record.

Lisa and Nathan Hadley with daughter Alyssa at Haden Hill House Museum

Nearly 2,500 people attended on Good Friday and Saturday, while visitor numbers across the whole of the four-day weekend is expected to be about 9,000.

The visitor count for last week, which the attraction considers as the first week of the Easter holidays, was about 13,000.

Families out enjoying the sunshine at Haden Hill House

“That’s busier than most summer holiday weeks last year,” said Black Country Living Museum spokesman Laura Wakelin.

“We hope people continue to decide to visit us over the rest of the holiday.”

Crowds also turned out to enjoy Easter themed events at Haden Hill house and fairground attractions at West Park in Wolverhampton.

Dudley Zoo estimates about 14,500 will have stepped through its doors from Friday to Monday.

Zoo director Derek Grove said: “We’ve had a cracking Easter bank holiday. Throughout the extended weekend we opened the zoo entrance earlier to welcome visitors and kept our chairlift and land train running longer during the day.”

Deborah Moore, Chloe Moore with Brody Griffiths and Myah Griffiths, and Holly Moore at West Park

Kate and Rich Downing with children Teddy and Fearne

Hundreds of rubber ducks glistened in the sunshine yesterday as they raced down the River Severn for the Bridgnorth Lions’ inaugural duck race.

The plastic competitors set off at midday, each contending to be the first to make it to the finish at the B4363 bridge.

They were followed by crowds who were descended on the market town in the warm weather.

The West Midlands enjoyed temperatures that were higher than much of southern Europe. The highest recorded nationally was 25F (77F), at Heathrow Airport.

But tomorrow brings more typical spring conditions – with the onset of April showers and temperatures across the West Midlands struggling to a relatively cool 15C (59F).

And the outlook for the next fortnight remains unsettled, with a mixture of sunshine and showers.