THE Beast from the East will seem like a distant memory as high temperatures come to the fore this weekend.

Today will see highs of 24°C across north Essex and sun seekers took to Castle Park over lunch in a bid to catch a few rays.

Gazette:

Warm - Matilda Lee doing what we would all like to be doing!

Forecasters say tomorrow morning will begin with early mist and fog patches, which will soon clear to leave another very warm and sunny day.

Some low cloud may, however, linger near the coast.

Experts predict a high of 24°C.

Gazette: Hot Weather, Castle Park, Colchester..

And anyone who isn’t off work can still look forward to a taste of summer over the weekend.

Saturday will be warm with sunshine with temperatures dropping slightly, to about 19°C.

But Sunday could bring a risk of thundery showers.

The early part of next week will turn cooler, cloudier and breezier with rain emerging as a real possibility.

Coastal towns will be bracing themselves for an influx of visitors this weekend as will, no doubt, Colchester Zoo.