Who said summer was over?

Retail bosses toast late blast of sun as thousands head to pools, parks and beaches

- Daniel Keane, Jonathan Prynn and Simon English

LONDONERS were today making the most of the heat blast- as hospitality bosses and economists welcomed an unexpected boost in sales.

Thousands were flocking to parks, bars and outdoor swimming pools as temperatures climbed towards 32C, with forecasters predicting that the UK could see its hottest day of the year.

The hot spell is set to continue into the weekend, with temperatures of at least 30C forecast for tomorrow, Friday and Saturday. Temperatures will need to remain above 25C in London for three consecutive days for the Met Office to officially register a heatwave.

Parts of West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Devon and Wales met the heatwave criteria yesterday, the Met Office said, and more areas are expected to be added to the list as the week goes on.

Economic experts said the September heat would help boost spending after a soggy summer that depressed sales on the high street.

David Leowi, chief executive of the D&D London dining group, said: "We've seen some of our restaurants double their business from last week. It's not just the sunshine, it's also about the absence of train strikes and the end of the school holidays.