May holiday starts well for snow lovers

HUNDREDS of skiers and snowboarders took to the sunny, snowy slopes of the Cairngorms during the May holiday weekend.

An extra 2cm of snow fell at the weekend, adding to the cover that has remained on the Cairngorms since mid-December.

The ski resort has enjoyed its best season for a generation, with tens of thousands boosting the Strathspey economy.

Skiers and snowboarders were joined by people sledging.

Mark Campbell and his sister Lisa took his daughter Freya, two, from his home at nearby Carrbridge to enjoy some fun on the slopes. Mr Campbell said: "It's amazing we are still able to enjoy sledging at this time of year. Freya is having a great time."

A spokeswoman for Cairngorm Mountain said thousands of skiers, snowboarders and sledgers were enjoying the extended winter season.

She added: "We are having such a tremendous season we don't want it to end. We even had an extra 2cm of snow cover overnight.

"We are looking forward to a successful May holiday weekend if this weather continues."

Elsewhere across the UK, temperatures struggled to make it into double figures, as overnight widespread showers gradually cleared away.

Bank Holiday Monday will see more sunny spells, but the cold winds will mean similar temperatures to today. Engineering work is also affecting most major rail routes, including the east coast line between London and Leeds.