Last updated 19:46, Thursday, 24 July 2008

WHILE the sun smiled down on large areas of Britain this week, skies over West Cumbria remained mixed.

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But even this was a steady improvement after a poor early summer, and it encouraged people to get out and about during what has been the first week of the school summer holidays.

A spokesman for Trotters World of Animals at Bassenthwaite said that visitor numbers had been good. Jane Laskey, of the Senhouse Roman Museum at Maryport, said that large numbers of local people and visitors had looked in on events at the museum which marked National Archaeology Week.

There was bright and sunny weather on Monday which brought crowds of visitors out to enjoy the coast at Allonby.

People from Carlisle, Penrith and beyond the county enjoyed a paddle in the sea, a play on the sands and queued for ices at Twentyman’s popular seafront store.

Owner Tony Twentyman said that this week had been his best so far.

He said: “When its fine, people forget about money and spend more.”

Despite clouds, the weather remained humid early in the week, so that while some people ventured out in t-shirts and shorts, others played it safe and took a mac.

But yesterday people woke up to brilliant sunshine, blue skies and the prospect of a fine end to the week.

Sunshine and showers are forecast for West Cumbria today and tomorrow and a sunny day is in prospect on Sunday.

The Met Office forecast for next week predicts outbreaks of rain on Monday, clearing on Tuesday with drier and brighter conditions following. All areas will have some sunshine from Wednesday to Friday and it will be generally warm, and even hot at times.