The Stroud district will be hotter than some of Europe's top holiday destinations over the Easter weekend, with temperatures exceeding 20C.

As sunseekers plan to go away over the coming weeks, the Stroud district could be hotter than St Tropez in the south of France, Corfu, Bodrum in southern Turkey and the Spanish island of Majorca which is to be cloudy on Saturday and Sunday.

Temperatures will rise throughout the week to give a dry, settled and warm bank holiday weekend throughout much of the country, according to the Met Office.

Stroud could see temperatures of up to 24C.

It is expected to be 21C on Good Friday, as high as 22C on Saturday, 24C on Easter Sunday and 22C on Easter Monday.

Forecaster Simon Partridge said Good Friday will be pleasant before the mercury rises to exceed 20C in areas on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr Partridge said: "After there was a chilly spell this weekend, we are going to see temperatures gradually increase through the week.

"By the weekend we could see in parts of the country temperatures of around 20C, or just above."