Britain has basked in the warmest April for more than 140 years, a weather expert has said.

The average temperature for the past month has been 11.1 degrees Celsius (51.9 degrees Fahrenheit), beating the previous record of 10.6C (51F) set in 1865.

Forecasters are predicting more warm weather to come this weekend with temperatures up to 23C today and up to 22C tomorrow.

The best weather will be in southern England.

Latest figures suggest the past 12 months could be the warmest in 10 years with average figures of 11.6C (52.9F) compared with 11.1C (51.9F) set in October 1995.

Experts from the Met Office Hadley Centre - which undertakes research on the effect of climate change - said the warming trend was consistent with climate predictions.

One recent global study, Defence and Security Implications of Climate Change, suggested the increasingly warmer world could result in drought, flooding, changes in crop yield and water resources.

Dr Debbie Hemming, climate scientist at the Met Office Hadley Centre said: "The effects of temperature rise are being experienced on a global scale.

"Many of the regions that are projected to experience the largest climate changes are already vulnerable to environmental stress from resource shortages, rapid urbanisation, population rise and industrial development."