Hodnet Hall's gardens opened for the Severn Hospice charity. Freya Jones, eight, and her brother Ethan, four, from Telford, enjoy an ice cream by the waterlillies.

Shropshire and Mid Wales were basking in another day of glorious sunshine today as the heatwave continued.

There were highs of more than 25C (77F) in London yesterday as the UK enjoyed wall-to-wall sunshine.

Temperatures were also high in Shropshire over the weekend although they did not quite reach Friday’s figure of 27C (81F), the hottest of the year so far.

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It made for perfect conditions for the droves of people who attended events in Shropshire or simply relaxed at home with a barbecue.

The reason for the warm and settled weather is a large ridge of high pressure centred over Scotland, although this will drift north later in the week, with a resulting dip in temperatures.

John Warner, Shropshire Star weatherman, said: “We will have further warm and sunny days today and tomorrow with temperatures reaching 22C (72F).

“It will be noticeably cooler and cloudier on Wednesday. The temperature will be no more than 15C (59F) and there may be a ground frost first thing on Thursday.”

Dozens of people turned out when the gates of a Shropshire garden were thrown open as part of a county hospice’s anniversary celebrations.

The garden event at Hodnet Hall yesterday was held as part of the Severn Hospice’s 20th birthday celebrations.

Attractions included stalls and talks from Michael Marriott, of David Austin Roses, and Katherine Swift, author of The Morville Hours; The Story of a Garden.

The blue skies above north Shropshire reverberated to the sound of piston engines as the British Aerobatic Association held the Golding-Barrett Aerobatic Competition at Sleap Airfield, near Wem.

Roy Dolton, Shropshire Aero Club president, said: “It was fabulous. The weather was just gorgeous.”

And hundreds of young people from across Shropshire enjoyed the sunshine at the Shropshire Young Farmers Rally at Walford College Farm, Baschurch, on Saturday.

Lucy Stokes, Shropshire Young Farmers Rally chairman for 2009, said: “Competitors pulled out all the stops with an impressive display in the home section of flower arranging, craft and cookery items.

“The highlights of the active programme probably being the tug of war competition, which is getting more and more hard fought every year, and the talent show class.”

Meanwhile, the second round of the British Radio Car Association’s national series was held at Oswestry Showground.

More than 240 enthusiasts took part in the two-day event, hosted by the Oswestry Radio Car Club.