THE sun is set to shine on Dorset giving a boost to trade.

Grab your sunglasses and sunscreen and make the most of the rays as Dorset bathes in uncharacteristically warm temperatures.

Businesses bosses are hoping the continued good weather will give a boost to trade as people make the most of the extended summer conditions.

This week will see temperatures heading towards 25 degrees celsius.

Today, tomorrow and Thursday will see sunshine and clouds, with temperatures hitting 22 or 23 degrees in the day and 16 or 17 at night.

Friday there is a chance of thundery showers, but temperatures will still stay over 20 degrees. This weekend could again see a shower or two on Saturday, but Sunday and into next week will be cloudy but warm again, with high temperatures of 19C.

President of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, Julie Cleaver, said: “Obviously any good weather is good for all types of trade.

“And any extended summer brings a smile to everyone’s faces.”

With successful events like Waterfest and Challenge Weymouth, Mrs Cleaver, said there was always something to do in the town.

She added: “For everyone to see Weymouth in glorious sunshine is a good thing.”

The warmer weather is set to continue towards October, Met Office bosses have said.

A spokesman said: “It is likely to remain largely dry and settled for most at first. The weekend should be fine for many with variable cloud and some sunny spells, although there is a risk of the odd heavy shower in the south on Saturday.

The weather will become more changeable into October but the warmer, sunnier weather will be most prolonged in the south, and Dorset could see daytime temperatures above average even towards the end of October, although night-time temperatures will be chillier and there is a risk of fog in places.

Weymouth weatherman Bob Poots said that so far September had been ‘extremely dry’.

The average rainfall for September over the last 30 years is approximately 56.4mm, Mr Poots said.

He said: “We have only had 0.5mm of rain so far, that’s in the first fortnight. It’s not likely to rain this week. It could be a very dry September, which is what we need because it’s been so wet up until now.

“It’s very dry at the moment. We don’t normally get them this dry.”

He added that on average there were 171 hours and 36 minutes of sunshine in September and so far Dorset had seen 94 hours and 36 minutes of sunshine with ‘plenty more to come’.

But Mr Poots said that people shouldn’t jump to use the phrase ‘Indian Summer’ just yet, as there has to be a frost, then a period of warm weather for it to apply.