The summer may have been a disappointing washout but there's still be time to clean off the barbecue and make the most of the sunshine.

While supermarkets displays of advent calendars and decorations appear to herald the onset of Christmas, West residents are more likely to be heading to the beach today with a sunny weekend forecast.

After another rainy summer peppered by flooding and storms, this weekend brings relief with the long overdue prospect of an Indian Summer.

John Hammond, forecaster at the Met Office, said: "We've had low pressure and seen a lot of unsettled weather. We've seen a wet start to the month with higher than average rainfall in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

"We now have an area of high pressure close to us for quite some time. This will bring settled conditions, lighter winds, dry weather and sunshine.

"Sometimes some cloud may get trapped behind this pressure and this will create some mist but with a breeze this shouldn't be too much of a problem. Overall we should see long spells of sunshine, temperatures creeping close to and above average. The fine weather should last into next week as well."

The forecast is expected to help straw and hay farmers, many of whom had been unable to harvest their crops due to the wet conditions.

Tourism bosses were preparing for large numbers of day trippers making the most of the region's outdoor attractions. Kirsty Cumming, of South West Tourism said: "Visitors will be spoilt for choice with the array of attractions, events, and activities on offer."

Bristol's Castle Park was full of office workers taking a lunch break in the sunshine. Sally Hadwick, 28, a project coordinator from Bristol, said: "I'm going sailing to make the most of the glorious, long awaited, sunshine."

In Weston-super-Mare, holiday makers hit the beach. John and Joy Bushall travelled from Headley Park, South Bristol. Mr Bushall, 74, said: "It's been a lovely day."