EAST Lancashire could be as warm as Monaco as mild weather is set to wash over the county this weekend.

The met office has predicted the major towns to reach 13C, with sunny spells throughout Saturday and Sunday.

It has also predicted a similar pattern for Monaco which could hit 12C to 14C.

The forecaster predicts will feel spring-like with little chance of rain.

Nationally, temperatures are set to get close to the UK record for February, which temperatures up to 17C predicted.

The current record maximum temperature measured in the UK in February is 19.7C which was set in London on February 13 1998, according to the forecaster.

The Welsh record temperature for February was set at 18.6C in Powys in 1990, the Scottish was recorded at 17.9C in Aberdeen in 1897 and the highest in Northern Ireland was 17.8C in Bryansford in 1998.

Richard Miles. from the Met Office, said it was unlikely the record temperatures would be broken this weekend.

He said: "Everywhere is going to be having a mild weekend, although you might get some light frost in the south east where the skies are clear."

Western areas of the UK could experience patches of light rain, he added.

Mr Miles said: "It looks like it is going to be much the same sort of picture, at least until Tuesday.

"The first half of next week you are looking at dry and sunny spells.

"Everywhere it is looking pretty mild."