Sunny Easter proves a boost for trade in Shropshire and Mid Wales

Many said it had been the best Easter weekend since 2011, when April brought a mini heatwave.

The Bank Holiday Monday sun encouraged the crowds to visit outdoor attractions – and ensure tills continued to ring.

Up to 1,000 people visited the Dorothy Clive Garden, in Willoughbridge, near Market Drayton on Easter Sunday and Monday for the Plant Hunters' Fair.

Curator Marcus Chilton-Jones said: "This is the best Easter weekend we have had in four years. It probably won't beat 2011 figures as we had a really hot spring then but they will be close."

Garden centres also reported high visitor numbers as families started stocking up on plants for the garden.

A spokeswoman for the Derwen Garden Centre in Guilsfield, near Welshpool, said: "It's certainly been one of our busiest days of the year so far. The sunshine brings people out, which is great for us."

In Oswestry the Cambrian Heritage Railway held its first running weekend of 2015 with a "chase the chocolate".

Chairman Rob Williams said: "It's been a very good Easter. Saturday was our busiest day, when we ran out of food in the cafe and had to go out and get more supplies."

In Telford, Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom was busy too. The farm's Will Dorrell said: "The Easter holidays have gone very well for us. It has not been record breaking but that is down to the weather forecasts."

Historic venues were popular for visits. Hawkstone Historic Park and Follies near Shrewsbury and Wollerton Old Hall Garden in Market Drayton reported a busy bank holiday weekend, but hadn't counted the visitor numbers yet.

Shoppers were out in force, too. Kevin Lockwood, manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres in Shrewsbury, said: "The weather has picked up and it has been a payday weekend, and with the stores all having their summer styles out we have had a good weekend's trading."

Sherwood Square in Telford Shopping Centre was transformed into a spring garden for the bank holiday weekend.