OXFORDSHIRE was the hottest place in the country yesterday as temperatures topped those in Majorca.

On the hottest day of the day of the year so far, the mercury at Benson rose to 21C (69.8F) at 4pm.

The average for this time of the year is about 12C.

Majorca peaked at just 15C yesterday.

The Met Office said the highest April temperature on record was 29.4C, recorded in Camden Square, north London, on April 16, 1949.