The warmest ever February day in Scotland has been recorded, according to the Met Office.

Aboyne in Aberdeenshire hit the maximum temperature of 18.3C (64.94F) on Thursday afternoon.

It beats the previous high of 17.9C (64.22F) recorded in Aberdeen on February 22, 1897.

(PA Graphics)
(PA Graphics)

The maximum temperature of that day nearly 122 years ago was matched at 12.23pm and by 1.39pm the mercury had risen another 0.4C (0.72F).

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said the mild weather is set to continue, but it is unlikely to reach such a high again this month.

He said: “Aboyne at just before 1.40pm this afternoon hit 18.3C – that beat the previous record of 17.9C way back in 1897.

“A few stations don’t report every hour so it may or may not go up, but we can say it’s the warmest February day in Scotland on record.

“Over the next few days it’ll be very mild temperatures, today is possibly the mildest for the next few days.

“It could be early next week until it’s as mild again, though whether we’ll see 18.3C is unlikely.

“So the mild theme is set to continue and it will be pleasantly spring-like through early next week.”