SUMMER sunshine has given a ray of hope to Gloucestershire's tourist spots as it looks like the bleak weather has finally been given the boot.
Holidaymakers made the most of a bright end to the school half-term holiday at the weekend.
And more is expected to come as temperatures could teeter above 20C later this week.
It has been welcome news for seasonal businesses across the county, who feared the better weather would never arrive.
Chris James, service manager at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, said it was relief to finally see a period of hot weather ahead.
He said: "It has definitely brought people out.
"We have seen an increase in customers which has been generally very good news for us.
"We just hope it will continue. We are relieved. Because the summer has come later than expected, so have plants and animals to the wetlands.
"More sunshine will of course be welcome."
After a damp month in May, there was relief when finally sunshine broke out again.
Temperatures peaked on May Bank Holiday but gave false hope to revellers who have waited patiently during dismal downpours.
But the weather is set stay warm for the foreseeable future, according to the Met Office.
This year has experienced the coldest spring in more than 50 years but forecasters are predicting cloudless skies for the rest of the week.
Despite the recent cold snap, season ticket sales have remained strong at Sandford Parks Lido in Cheltenham.
Iain Barton, events manager at the lido, said: "We had a very good opening weekend at the beginning of May so it put in everyone's minds that we were going to have a good season.
"We do have our customers who come whatever the weather and then we have people who like a day trip when there's hot weather.
"We are normally very steady but the hotter days do keep us going.
"We hope the good weather continues so more people come and make the most of it."
