They are used to the searing heat of Madagascar,
so it was little wonder these ring-tailed lemurs were making the most of the glorious weather yesterday.
The animals sat back on decking at the Welsh Mountain Zoo in Colwyn Bay and put their faces to the sun as they soaked up the rays in temperatures approaching 77f (25c). The good news for them – and us – is that the heatwave is expected to continue for much of Britain.
Scotland, too, basked in glorious sunshine yesterday and temperatures in London and Glasgow were similar, with highs of 71f (22c). The dry weather, however, has not been without its problems.
Firefighters were yesterday investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed 20 acres of Ashdown Forest, near Wych Cross in East Sussex. Eighty firefighters were needed to bring the fire under control after it broke out on Wednesday.
Catching some rays: Ring-tailed lemurs enjoy the glorious sunshine at the Welsh Mountain Zoo which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month since opening
Before and after: Firefighters were investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed 20 acres of Ashdown Forest, near Wych Cross in East Sussex
The sunshine is set to persist today and throughout the weekend, forecasters predict, with Scotland’s West Coast seeing the best of the weather.
Despite waking to showers today, Londoners were expected to enjoy temperatures of 25C when the dark clouds move on through the morning.
The mercury will hit 73f (23c) in the West today, while Aberdeen will see highs of 66f (19c).
Met Office forecaster Emma Corrigan said: 'Most places today will be dry and fine. There are some scattered showers across London through to Southampton and the Isle of Wight, but these will move westwards.
'We had 25C yesterday and we are quite likely to see 25C again today. We should see 23-24C in south Wales and 22C in The Midlands.
'Other showers will develop in Devon, Cornwall and South Wales later this morning and this afternoon, but these should ease tonight and will stay clear tomorrow.'
Saturday and Sunday were not expected to be quite as hot, but will remain largely dry and sunny, she added. The UK’s warm weather is expected to end next week, with showers predicted by Monday.
Mouth-watering: 17-year-old Kirsty Parsons admires the strawberries at Cheddar Valley Strawberries in Somerset after the late summer made them bigger and sweeter
Succulent: The first harvest of the season was delayed by more than two and a half weeks, but the fruits are now thriving thanks to the recent spell of sunshine
Cream of the crop: Strawberry association British Summer Fruits says growers across the country are also reporting berries 15 per cent larger than usual
Meanwhile, the late summer has produced the best-ever crop of British strawberries which are 40 per cent sweeter than normal, industry experts claimed.
A cold spring has caused the beloved berries to grow much slower, giving them longer to develop a more succulent flavour.
The first harvest of the season was delayed by more than two and a half weeks, but the fruits are now thriving thanks to the recent spell of sunshine.
Strawberry farmer Andrew Seager has been growing them for more than 50 years at his farm in the Cheddar valley in Somerset.
He said: 'We are two-and-a-half weeks late this year, which is the latest I have ever known it, which isn't too good really.
'The tastiest strawberries I've ever grown': Farmer Andrew Seager with his bumper of crop which he will need 20 staff to pick throughout the summer
Ripe for the picking: Farmer Chris Seager, 34, inspects his harvest at Cheddar Valley Strawberries, which grows 18 hectares of strawberries
Full of flavour: The sweetness of strawberries is measured in degrees Brix (Bx). This year's crop is clocking in at well over ten degrees Bx - a 42 per cent increase
'But now they are here, they have a very good flavour - an excellent flavour because they have grown slower. They're much better than normal. Now the sun has come they are thriving.
'Things are looking better now, I was worried the weather was going to make the season was a washout like last year. The weather was much better than last year though, so we shouldn't have any more problems after our dodgy start this season.'
Mr Seager, 64, grows 18 hectares of strawberries at his farm and will employ 20 people this summer to help him pick them all.
People flocked to beaches, including this one on the Isle Of Wight near Ryde, where the temperatures reached as high as 25C
We do like to be beside the seaside: Alan and Chris Kemp, both residents in Ryde, Isle Of Wight enjoyed one of the hottest days of the year on the beach
All aboard! Aleisha-Mai cooled off in the sea, hanging out in her brightly coloured inflatable boat on the beach near Ryde, Isle Of Wight
Students played in the warm sea near Ryde, Isle Of Wight, as the nation basked in the warm weather
He added: 'Funnily enough, they are the tastiest strawberries I've ever grown. I've spoken to a few other farmers, and they all said the same thing - the late start has made them taste so much better.'
Strawberry association British Summer Fruits says growers across the country are reporting berries 15 per cent larger than usual - and are much sweeter.
The sweetness of strawberries, and other soft fruits, is measured in degrees Brix (Bx). While usual strawberries are around seven degrees Bx, this year's tasty treats are clocking in at well over ten degrees Bx - a 42 per cent increase.
Students Steph Pethick, 20 and Catherine Humphries, 19 enjoyed some lunchtime sunshine at the Royal Crescent, Bath
People enjoy a water fountain in London's Southbank as Britain finally enjoys some warm June weather following one of the coldest winters and Springs in years
Magda Tatar walks through a field of rape seed in Naul, Co Dublin, as temperatures continue to rise across the country
Laurence Olins, Chairman of British Summer Fruits, said: 'Strawberries are a British staple of the early summer season.
'It may have been a later start to the British strawberry season, but there will be a good supply of British strawberries for everyone to enjoy.
'Twenty years ago, poor weather conditions might have meant disaster for commercial strawberry growers, but following decades of investment in protective covers and new varieties, this summer's strawberry crop is thriving.'
Beautiful: Gardener Tracy Fraser in the gardens of Minterne House in Dorset, which are experiencing a 'once-in-a-lifetime' flowering of all their Rhododendrons at once
Blooming brilliant: Some of the 3,500 rhododendron bushes have grown to a whopping 40ft tall and it is estimated each one boasts up to 500,000 flowers
Production is expected to exceed last year's 51,626 tonnes of strawberries supplied to UK supermarkets by members of British Summer Fruits - which sold for a monster £780 million.
Meanwhile, gardeners at a country estate are celebrating a 'once-in-a-lifetime' flowering of all their rhododendrons at once, with billions of blooms lighting up the grounds.
The coldest spring on record had looked to put a dampener on the displays at Minterne Gardens, Dorset, with many of the early-flowering bushes refusing to bloom.
But the recent rise in temperatures have shocked the 120-year-old perennials into life and all have flowered at once, a never-seen-before occurrence.
Some of the 3,500 rhododendron bushes have grown to a whopping 40ft tall and it is estimated each one boasts up to 500,000 flowers.
The 20 acres of open gardens near Dorchester are now awash with a sea of whites, pinks, reds and purples.
Minterne contains one of Britain's most diverse and historic collections of rare rhododendrons and azaleas brought back by the great Victorian plant hunters in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Katie Dunn, 22, soaks up the sun on the rooftop pool at the Thermae Bath Spa in Bath as the sunny weather continues across the UK with the hottest day of the year so far
Riding high: Arthur Gaskin enjoys the sun as he guides his horse, Blue, through the Yorkshire Dales on the way to the world-famous Appleby horse fair in Cumbria
Three-day outlook: Forecasters are predicting glorious sunshine for much of the country throughout the weekend
The Honorable Henry Digby, owner of 17th century Minterne House, said: 'It is a once in a lifetime flowering - and for once we have the bad weather to thank.
'Rhododendron usually start flowering in early spring but in March and April the weather was so terrible. The winter was harsh and there was lots of frost in early spring so everything was delayed.
'But since the weather perked up there has been an explosion of flowers in our gardens. Normally the flowering would be spread over four months but this year everything coming out all at once.
'This is a completely unique year, and by far the best we have seen in at least 50 years. Even though we had such a poor start to the season there is a silver lining. Normally the garden is past its best at this time of year but now it is in its prime.'
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