and on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news... one of the great performances in a european final — london—born ademola lookman scores a hat trick for atalanta to win the europa league. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it's only 2a hours since the prime minister sprung ajuly general election on us all. but campaigning is already in full swing. party leaders are setting off on what will be six frantic weeks of intense campaigning ahead ofjuly fourth. the prime minister has already been to events in england, wales and scotland today. the labour leader, who had no notice of what was to come, travelled to kent. the liberal democrats and the snp have also been

setting out their stall. our political editor, chris mason has been tracking them all day. applause placards and cheers and a baby is getting attention from politicians. keir starmer is quite a fan of visiting lower league football grounds and places he hopes labour can win. he was in gillingham in kent this morning, his deputy with him too. . ~ kent this morning, his deputy with him too. ., ~ ,, ~ ., kent this morning, his deputy with him too. ., ~ . ., , . him too. thank you. whatever service --eole him too. thank you. whatever service eole t him too. thank you. whatever service peeple try and — him too. thank you. whatever service people try and access _ him too. thank you. whatever service people try and access these _ him too. thank you. whatever service people try and access these days, - people try and access these days, they find it's like wading through treacle. . . , they find it's like wading through treacle. , ., �* they find it's like wading through treacle. �* , ., , treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for _ treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for folk _ treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for folk on _ treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for folk on a _ treacle. red cards aren't usually welcome for folk on a football . treacle. red cards aren't usually i welcome for folk on a football pitch but expect to see plenty of these in the next month or so, spelling out labour's core message. we the next month or so, spelling out labour's core message.— the next month or so, spelling out labour's core message. we have had 14 ears of labour's core message. we have had 14 years of going _ labour's core message. we have had 14 years of going around _ labour's core message. we have had 14 years of going around and - labour's core message. we have had 14 years of going around and round i 14 years of going around and round in circles. — 14 years of going around and round in circles, getting absolutely nowhere. chaos and division, feeding chaos_ nowhere. chaos and division, feeding chaos and _ nowhere. chaos and division, feeding chaos and division. if you want to

change _ chaos and division. if you want to change you — chaos and division. if you want to change you have to vote for it, and if you _ change you have to vote for it, and if you vote — change you have to vote for it, and if you vote labour it's a vote to stop _ if you vote labour it's a vote to stop the — if you vote labour it's a vote to stop the chaos, a vote to turn the page _ stop the chaos, a vote to turn the page and — stop the chaos, a vote to turn the page and its adverts to rebuild our country— page and its adverts to rebuild our country together. thank you very much. thank you. —— it's a vote to rebuild _ much. thank you. —— it's a vote to rebuild our— much. thank you. —— it's a vote to rebuild our country. a much. thank you. -- it's a vote to rebuild our country.— rebuild our country. a general election is _ rebuild our country. a general election is about _ rebuild our country. a general election is about winning - rebuild our country. a general| election is about winning seats rebuild our country. a general- election is about winning seats and staying in them. rishi sunakjust about manage that in ilkeston in derbyshire, as he made the case the economy is on the up.— derbyshire, as he made the case the economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when _ economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when i _ economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when i got _ economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when i got this _ economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when i got this job, - economy is on the up. inflation down from 1196 when i got this job, down i from 11% when i got thisjob, down back to normal, just over 2%. energy bills, now followed by hundreds of pounds. wages have been rising by faster than prices for almost ten months now. faster than prices for almost ten months nova-— faster than prices for almost ten months now. ., , ., , ., months now. the conservatives and labour might _ months now. the conservatives and labour might have _ months now. the conservatives and labour might have very _ months now. the conservatives and labour might have very different. labour might have very different approaches to people crossing the channel in small boats. labour would scrap the tory plan to send some migrants to rwanda, which rishi sunak claims could make a big difference. sunak claims could make a big difference-—

sunak claims could make a big difference. how do we stop the boats? i difference. how do we stop the boats? i am — difference. how do we stop the boats? i am very _ difference. how do we stop the boats? i am very clear, - difference. how do we stop the boats? i am very clear, that. boats? i am very clear, that requires bold solutions. that is why we need rwanda. got to make it crystal clear to everybody, if you come to our country illegally, you will not get to stay. but come to our country illegally, you will not get to stay.— come to our country illegally, you will not get to stay. but the prime minister told _ will not get to stay. but the prime minister told us _ will not get to stay. but the prime minister told us today _ will not get to stay. but the prime minister told us today he - will not get to stay. but the prime minister told us today he didn't i minister told us today he didn't expect anyone to be sent to rwanda before the election. within hours, mr sunak was at a brewery in barry in south wales, having a go at the kit. there was then an awkward moment when he said this. looking forwards to — moment when he said this. looking forwards to all _ moment when he said this. looking forwards to all the _ moment when he said this. looking forwards to all the football? - moment when he said this. looking forwards to all the football? not. moment when he said this. looking forwards to all the football? not so | forwards to all the football? not so much my back. _ forwards to all the football? not so much my back, but... _ forwards to all the football? not so much my back, but... but- forwards to all the football? not so much my back, but... but that's i much my back, but... but that's because you _ much my back, but... but that's because you guys _ much my back, but... but that's because you guys aren't - much my back, but... but that's because you guys aren't in - much my back, but... but that's because you guys aren't in it. i much my back, but... but that's i because you guys aren't in it. wales have not qualified _ because you guys aren't in it. wales have not qualified for _ because you guys aren't in it. wales have not qualified for the _ because you guys aren't in it. wales have not qualified for the euros, i have not qualified for the euros, the football tournament starting next month. england and scotland have. in edinburgh today, the new look scottish national party had their general election launch. fin

their general election launch. on jul the their general election launch. on july the 4th, independence day, make sure your— july the 4th, independence day, make sure your voice is heard. i expect over— sure your voice is heard. i expect over the — sure your voice is heard. i expect over the next six weeks we will see the tories — over the next six weeks we will see the tories and labour really going at it _ the tories and labour really going at it they— the tories and labour really going at it. they will be going hammer and tongs _ at it. they will be going hammer and tongs to— at it. they will be going hammer and tongs to discredit each other. i will also — tongs to discredit each other. i will also be going hammer and tongs, but not _ will also be going hammer and tongs, but not against anyone, i will be going _ but not against anyone, i will be going hammerand but not against anyone, i will be going hammer and tongs to put scotland — going hammer and tongs to put scotland first.— scotland first. ready? right, cheering. _ scotland first. ready? right, cheering, let's _ scotland first. ready? right, cheering, let's go! _ cheering, let's go! cheering - cheering and in cheltenham in gloucestershire, the liberal democrats were sorting out their choreography, some in party colours from head to toe. leader ed davey has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. pa. has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. �* ., has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. �* . . ., has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. �* . ., ., , ., has a phrase we will hear a fair bit of. �* . ., ., i. .. of. a fair deal for everyone can have a decent _ of. a fair deal for everyone can have a decent home _ of. a fair deal for everyone can have a decent home that's i of. a fair deal for everyone can i have a decent home that's secure of. a fair deal for everyone can - have a decent home that's secure and clean, and an affordable, comfortable retirement when the time comes. a fair dealfor comfortable retirement when the time comes. a fair deal for every child has a decent school where they can have the opportunity to realise their potential. the have the opportunity to realise their potential.— have the opportunity to realise their otential. , their potential. the next six weeks will involve — their potential. the next six weeks will involve a _ their potential. the next six weeks will involve a fair _ their potential. the next six weeks will involve a fair bit _ their potential. the next six weeks will involve a fair bit of _ their potential. the next six weeks will involve a fair bit of ticker i will involve a fair bit of ticker tape and assorted electioneering

paraphernalia. luckily there are those keen to pick it up. chris mason, bbc news. one of the key battlegrounds of this election will be immigration. the latest official figures estimate that net migration — that's the difference between the number of people coming here to live and those leaving — has fallen by about 10% to 685,000 last year. it hit a record high of more than 760,000 the year before in 2022. it is the third year running that overall net migration has exceeded the pre—brexit levels. our home editor, mark easton, is here. thank you. yes, net migration, the difference between people arriving and leaving, 685,000 last year, down, as you were saying, around 10% from the record level we saw in 2022. there you can see the little folk and it's no doubt that small

full that the conservatives will be focusing on during the election as evidence that their plan to cut migration is working, but let's look at the bigger picture. since 2010, when the tories came to power. last year's net migration figure, you can see it there, is the second—largest across that whole time in office, and amounts to one of the biggest migrations to the uk in this country's history, twice as high as it was when arrivals from poland and other eastern european countries were at their peak in 2005, more actually in one year than the windrush generation over two decades. if we focus on immigration, just the numbers arriving, you can see, just a tiny drop, no real change, more than 1.2 million foreigners came to live in britain last year, that's just down 40,000 from the year before. the fall in net migration is because more people are leaving, notably, students who arrived after covid. so who are the

arrivals? well, 41% of them are workers and their families. 37% are students and their dependents. in fact, 94% of those people were given visas by government, invited to live here. we have seen a big fall in the number coming by humanitarian routes, particularly from hong kong and ukraine, and also a slight reduction asylum seekers, too. of the 1.2 million arrivals recorded last year, just 81,000 came to claim asylum. many, of course, by small boat. this year, so far, has seen record arrivals across the channel, with the government pinning its hopes of stopping the boats on its rwanda scheme. of course the prime minister today conceded that no one will be sent to rwanda before the election. immigration is the third most important issue for voters, according to a survey out today. there are no more net migration statistics before the election, so

the campaign will be fought on today's numbers, and that's likely today's numbers, and that's likely to ensure that migration remains a key battleground in the days and weeks ahead. thank you. the leader of the reform uk party, richard tice, says his party will have candidates in 630 of the uk's 650 constituencies at the election. but the party's founder nigel farage will not be one of them. reform uk currently only has one mp — lee anderson, the former conservative deputy chairman. the party's leader, richard tice, is standing in boston and skegness in lincolnshire. here's our special correspondent lucy manning. nigel paul farage. seven times, nigel farage has stood for parliament, seven times he's failed. there will be no eighth attempt as he also says he wants to do his bit for the upcoming us election. well, to be clear, there will be some people very

disappointed i'm not standing, but i am campaigning. and, you know, the problem is, 6 weeks is such a short period of time to fight a parliamentary constituency and promote the cause around the country. and, you know, i think rishi sunak has wrong footed a lot of people, myself included. at today's reform uk lunch in london, the elephant in the room was the man who wasn't in the room. i'm absolutely delighted, during this election campaign, that my good friend nigel farage will be helping out significantly in campaigning to drive home the message of reform uk and how we can save britain. the party's pitch was changed and stopping immigration. whether you vote tory or whether you vote labour, you will get the same form of socialism. you'll get higher taxes, lower wages, and mass immigration that will make us all worse off.

you must be extremely disappointed that nigel farage is not standing. not at all, actually nigel is going to be helping the campaign, he is the honorary president and he's always said that he's got interests over here in the uk but also in america. not a good look for you that he doesn't think he can win a seat, so why should voters think that he can win a seat? nigel is campaigning hard to say to people, put your trust in the reform uk candidates, he supports the policies and agenda, we know first past the post is difficult, but we are going to win seats, we are going to get representation in the house of commons. the conservative seat of peniston and stockbridge, the tories will be somewhat relieved if farage last election keeps people from switching from conservative to reform, letting

labour in. richard's a reform voter. i'm disappointed, yeah, i only heard on the radio this morning that he is not standing, but it was he was because you know, he's a voice to be reckoned with and he talks a lot of sense. sean is leaning to the tories. there's more to this general election campaign are just the conservatives and labour and we will hear from all those other parties. in terms of the big picture today, what we have had from the party leaders, fanning out across the uk, is setting out their broad campaign messages. and you know what? we will hear them repeatedly, because a key part of political campaigning is saying the same thing, frankly, over and over again. there's also been, and over again. there's also been, and there will be plenty more of this, too, a splash of geographical

masochism, leaders hurtling around from one place to the next, the prime minister taking in england, wales and in the last hour, scotland, as he arrived in the highlands. oh, and this place, westminster, hasn't quite finished yet was up it will be packing up and going quite pretty soon. but parliament is still sitting. working out which propose laws that were working their way through the system can happen in a mad rush before tomorrow, and which, frankly, wilful by the wayside. it looks the legislation needed for compensation for those caught up in the post office scandal and the infected blood scandal will get sorted but a couple of other ideas, the idea of eventually banning smoking, the prime minister very keen on that, that looks like it could be struggling as far as time is concerned, and the conservative manifesto promise from last time out, which was banning no—fault evictions for renters in england. chris mason, thank you. a ten—year—old girl on a school trip was killed in a mudslide

yesterday in north yorkshire. leah harrison was on an organised forest walk near carlton in cleveland. her family say she was a happy bubbly go lucky little girl. our north of england correspondent danny savage is there. in the cleveland hills, not farfrom middlesbrough, there's small traces of the tragedy here yesterday. an organised school trip for a year 6 class from darlington ended in disaster as a mudslide swept down a hillside near carlton in cleveland. ten—year—old leah harrison was killed as the ground gave way. herfamily described her as a happy and bubbly girl. her dream was to become a playerfor the lionesses. she was a pupil at mount pleasant primary school. the other children on the trip to mark the end of sat tests have been brought home. one of the hardest things for me was seeing upset children on their return to school. we are devastated at the loss.

devastated for leah's mum and herfamily. and the school community, the trust community, i have to say, is, you know, i feel like we are in shock, really, today after what happened yesterday. the pupils were on an instructor led walk. hartlepool council, the operator of the centre involved, has now suspended all outdoor activities. the mudslide happened not far from here in conditions not dissimilar to this, and at one point there were 30 mountain rescue volunteers up here, helping with the emergency. i cannot recall being involved in a mudslide of this ferocity and with this outcome. it must be some sort of freak of nature. an investigation is now being carried out by police and the health and safety executive to establish what happened. leah harrison's family say they will always remember her beautiful smile, giddy laugh and sillyjokes. danny savage, bbc news,

carlton in cleveland. the former chief executive of the post office paula vennells has been accused of accepting advice from a pr man to avoid re—examining sub—postmasters' prosecutions because of a fear that it would turn into "front—page news". the horizon inquiry saw an email when she was given the advice, to which she replied that she was accepting the pr man's "steer". our business correspondent emma simpson reports. paula, are you really telling the truth, paula? it's day two, and paula vennells is facing detailed questions about a key moment in the scandal — when the independent investigation by second sight is under way. i was not trying to close anything down. it's really important that i say that. it was 2013, and second sight were about to issue their interim report on the horizon it problem hitting branch accounts, and the post office

is debating how to respond. the inquiry saw this e—mail from the head of post office communications. "if we say publicly that we'll look at past cases, we will open this up very significantly into front—page news," adding, "it would have the ballistic impact." then, in paula's reply e—mail, "you are right to call this out, and i will take your steer, no issue." you did take the advice of the pr guy, didn't you? i really don't remember it relating to the decision... groaning hang on, please. thank you. - if this review had actually taken place, would it have avoided a lost decade for miscarriages ofjustice to be discovered? it may well have done. this is susan crichton — she was post office's top lawyer then, but she was sent out from the board meeting that soon followed. she had been due to present

a paper about past prosecutions. what would you say to the suggestion that this is the executive team shielding the board from the executive team's dirty laundry? i'd say it was completely wrong. and then questions about the mediation scheme and what it was going to cost. why did you write an e—mail which says, "when we discuss this, the hope of mediation was to avoid or minimise compensation"? because that was what we discussed. right, but... sorry, but not as the purpose of doing it, but one of the aspects. the hope. possibly, yes. and then emotion as she explains why she had to step back from her role for family reasons in 2019 in the midst of the high court legal battle. is that right? yes, that's right. she'll face the postmasters' lawyers tomorrow.

emma simpson, bbc news, at the post office inquiry. our top story this evening: the first full day of general election campaigning is under way. rishi sunak zigzags across brtiain while sir keir starmer rallies support at a football club in kent. and coming up, west ham star lucas paqueta on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news... there's a tough draw for andy murray in what's expected to be his final french open. we'll have all the first—round details from paris. in exactly six weeks today, millions of people will be casting their votes in the general election. between now and then, we will be travelling the length and breadth of the uk and hearing

from our political reporters about what is at stake in their constituencies and the key issues concerning people there. first up, we are going to worcestershire and west yorkshire. let's start with aisha iqbal in bradford. hello from bradford, where they are working around the clock to get ready to host the uk city of culture in 2025, next year, and that is going to be a significant moment both economically, socially and politically for a city and a district that likes to think of itself as something of a sleeping giant. in terms of the political landscape, it is a tale of two cities, three sitting labour mps representing the urban and inner—city constituencies, two conservatives representing the more rural, dare i say more affluent areas of the district. one of those is keighley, a bellwether seat which will be an important one for labour

to be eyeing up on the general election trial, because they will be trying to rebuild their fabled northern red wall. one of the issues that will be important for voters here in the general election, at the forefront of the mines, the cost of living crisis. bradford is an area that has got deep pockets of inequality, and a backdrop of dwindling public resources, and a council that has only recently narrowly avoided bankruptcy. the other thing that is likely to come up other thing that is likely to come up again and again is the issue of gaza, we have a big muslim community in bradford district, and many of them feel acutely the plight of the palestinian people and have rejected the labour party's early stands on a ceasefire. they have shown their response to that by voting in lots of independent candidates in the recent local elections, and this will come up up in the general election too. that is the picture in bradford, james pearson is in worcester, what about the situation there? well, welcome to the banks of the

river severn in the heart of worcester. for decades, the general election here has matched the national picture, so since 2010 we have had a conservative mp. but in the local elections earlier this month, the tories struggled, they lost all but one of their councillors. labour sees this as a battleground it has to win, but let me give you one interesting angle. in the local elections, it was the green party that topped the popular vote here, so what those green voters decided to do injuly will be crucial to who wins a seat. back in 1997, so—called worcester woman was considered a key undecided voter that parties wanted to win over. from speaking to people in the city today, there are still many previously conservative voters who are undecided about which party they will pick. what they are decided on, though, is the issues they want politicians to address, and chiefly todayit politicians to address, and chiefly today it has been the subject of the nhs. students, parents and

pensioners telling us they are worried about long waiting lists. as the economy, businesses want to see more done for them as well. on election night, worcester will be one to watch. the uk's top civil servant, the cabinet secretary simon case, has told the covid inquiry that "good people" in downing street were "smashed to pieces" by the toxic culture there during the pandemic. whatsapp messages he sent were highly critical of then prime minister borisjohnson, saying he "cannot lead" and that he "changes strategic direction every day" — messages he now says he regrets. mr case was also asked about partygate after he'd attended at one of the downing street events that breached lockdown rules. with more, here's our health editor, hugh pym. neverfar behind borisjohnson, simon case was a man with a front seat atjohnson's number ten during the pandemic. and today, later than originally planned because of ill—health,

the cabinet secretary gave evidence to the uk covid inquiry. i swear by almighty god... that the evidence i shall give... whatsapp messages from the time were quoted back at him. you yourself said _ good people were being put off because it's such a rat's nest. yeah, that's all correct. at times he showed his emotions... good people were working incredibly hard in impossible circumstances with choices where it seems there was never right, never a right answer. but that lack of sort of team spirit, the difficult atmosphere, you're trying to run everything from the centre of government, despite trying to run the response to a global pandemic. good people were just being smashed to pieces. and his exasperation. there were some dark days when it felt we just couldn't. .. ..we just couldn't get it right. it was put to him that he'd removed

sir chris whitty and sir patrick vallance from a crucial meeting on the road map to ease lockdown. so to take them out of the equation, to take them out of the audience for the prime minister, you're skewing the advice being given to him and therefore the outcome. i'm sorry, i'm going to disagree with you here, because as i said, the prime minister had already discussed these matters a great deal. and what about partygate, mr case having taken part in one office event? it was a terrible self—imposed wound. i mean, yeah, i mean, it sort of, i'm sure... ..to the bereaved, sort of feels like a terrible insult. today marks the end of this stage of the inquiry, government decision—making during the pandemic, and evidence has been heard in edinburgh, cardiff and belfast as well as london. but the final report on all that won't come out till next year. topics like the nhs and vaccines will be covered with further reports in a process lasting until 2026.

hugh pym, bbc news. the football association has charged west ham's brazilian midfielder lucas paqueta with four betting offences related to bookings he received in premier league matches. our sports news correspondent laura scott is here. what more can you tell us? well, sophie, this development follows nine months of investigation by the fa, and whilst betting offences in football are not unusual, the nature of these charges is incredibly rare, because it relates to a player allegedly trying to deliberately get yellow cards for the purposes of effecting a betting match. or a betting market. the fa says it covered his conduct in four matches, rice said he was extremely surprised and upset by the charges, which he denies. he was a record club signing in 2022, and the club have said they will stand by and

support him. he now has untiljune until formally support him. he now has untiljune untilformally admit or support him. he now has untiljune until formally admit or deny the charges. this case will be dealt with on its merits, butjudging by a previous case where a breach was proven, it is a matter taken incredibly seriously, and she could be facing a lengthy ban if offences are proven in his case. he's just 23 years old. but remarkably, manchester city star phil foden has already won six premier league titles, the champions league, and could add a third fa cup to his ever—growing trophy cabinet in this weekend's final against rivals manchester united. he's also set to be pivotal to england's chances at the euros which start next month. our sports editor, dan roan, has been to meet him. the premier league player of the year... in a team full of superstars, phil foden has shone the brightest. the manchester city midfielder�*s been integral to a record fourth title in a row and told me what it meant to have enjoyed the best campaign of his career. i knew i was capable of doing this season,

so, yeah, it's so good to now say that i've had a good season and i want to continue to play well. i try and lead on the pitch with the things i do and how hard i work. so, yeah, i've been here for a long time now working with the manager, and i think now is the time for me to step up and try and be the man who's going to score the goals. and he's done exactly that, with 27 goals so far in a break—out season. laser—like precision! foden's development has come under the watchful eye of pep guardiola — although the manager has raised the prospect that he'll leave at the end of next season when his contract ends. obviously, it'd be really sad, i've not known any other thing apart from him, so, yeah, it'll be strange when he does go. but, yeah, i don't want to think too much about it and i want to just enjoy now. he just simplifies football. i feel like maybe there's others managers out there who complicate it a little bit. foden, who joined the club's academy aged just eight, enjoys legendary status in his hometown of nearby stockport,

and he's now part of a side that's widely expected to win a second successive fa cup final against local rivals manchester united this weekend. does it mean a bit more to you, do you think, than some of the players? yeah, i'd like to think so. obviously, being here, being an academy player, it definitely means a little bit more for me. there is this sense by many football fans that all city have to do these days is turn up and they'll win. yeah, ifeel like when people say that, they don't really understand how hard it is to do what we've done this season, if you like. it's going to be a tough final. we've seen last year, you know, they didn't make it easy for us. and this summer, many feel foden could be the man to help end his country's long wait for a major trophy at the euros. do you sense this is the year for england? i'd like to think so. the quality of players that we've got is unbelievable. i think we're capable of definitely going on and winning it. i think we've shown that in previous tournaments, that we've been so close to doing it. so, yeah, i'mjust looking forward to it, i'm excited. foden's gone from footballing prodigy

to one of the best players in the world, but his greatest success could be yet to come. dan roan, bbc news. it is thursday, it is question time, here is fiona with the details. six. here is fiona with the details. six weeks to go until the general election. _ weeks to go until the general election, and we are in coventry tonight, — election, and we are in coventry tonight, where people get their first chance to have a say on who will get _ first chance to have a say on who will get the — first chance to have a say on who will get the vote. we are live on iplayer— will get the vote. we are live on iptayer at— will get the vote. we are live on iplayer at eight o'clock and on bbc one after— iplayer at eight o'clock and on bbc one after the o'clock news. time for a look at the weather, here's stav danaos. good evening, it has been a lot better across southern areas through the day to day, some sunshine, and even further north the grain has been gradually petering out, there will be further rain across scotland, generally across the northern half of the country, as this area of low pressure continues to fizzle out along with this weather front. to fizzle out along with this weatherfront. it to fizzle out along with this weather front. it will stay breezy through the north channel, irish sea coast, rain heaviest through central and southern scotland, a few shows in northern ireland, northern

england, north west, but even here the rain petering out by the end of the rain petering out by the end of the night. where we have the cloud, double figures. so tomorrow, a cloudy start for most areas, still a few showers across parts of the north, but even here the sunshine will break through. chilly in the south and south—east, with the best of the sunshine through the day, temperatures up to 19 degrees. elsewhere, 15—17, so a little warmer. that is the theme into the bank holiday weekend, turning a little warmer, some sunshine but also showers for the second half of the bank holiday weekend. saturday probably the best day of the weekend, we are in between weather systems, and this one will encroach into south—western areas later in the day. a cool start on saturday, lots of sunshine around, showers developing in the afternoon, but most places dry, fresh south braces, a pleasant day to come. 19—20 across scotland, 21—22 in the warmest parts

of the south—east. it does change into sunday, bank