SCOTS enjoyed a heady mix of sunshine and sugar over Easter weekend as the country enjoyed blue skies and warm temperatures.

While southern England and Wales were subjected to heavy rain and thunder yesterday, Easter revellers in Scotland tucked into chocolate eggs in brilliant sunshine and temperatures up to 17C.

In Glasgow, the warm weather was welcomed by more than a thousand bikers who turned out to deliver eggs and cuddly toys to young patients at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill.

The annual Easter event, now in its 35th year, saw bikers dressed as superheroes, Easter chicks, bunnies and even a knight in full armour pass through the city en route to the hospital.

Thousands lined the street to watch the parade, which was one of the largest in the event's history and aims to raise more than £20,000 for Yorkhill Children's Charity.

Kirsten Sinclair, head of fundraising for Yorkhill Children's Charity, said: "We are incredibly grateful to the biking community for their generous support over the past 35 years.

"Every penny donated makes a real and lasting difference and on this special anniversary year we hope to try and raise as much as possible for the incredibly brave and inspirational ­children who will be spending Easter at Yorkhill."

Fundraiser Aileen ­McConnell watched as the bikers made their way to the hospital.

She said: "It was a real spectacle and very moving. It is not just the sight but the smell and the sound which can be overwhelming."

The sunshine was also good news for skiers and snowboarders who turned out in T-shirts to make the most of the settled weather at Scotland's ski slopes.

Chairwoman of Ski Scotland, Heather Negus, added: "The settled weather and sunshine is finally allowing us to really enjoy the massive dumps of snow we got over the winter and even up until last weekend.

"The cold nights are firming up the snowpack which softens in the morning sun, giving great sliding conditions. Although April's hot sun has melted snow further east and on the lower slopes, we could well be skiing into May this year."

Sunny days like the ones experienced recently are known as bluebird days in the skiing community and attract large numbers. On Saturday - a day Ski Scotland described as a "real bluebird Easter Saturday" -CairnGorm Mountain's "Bag the Pipe" half-pipe competition attracted a big crowd, including Sochi Olympic snowboarder Ben Kilner.

Mr Kilner said: "It's been an epic day - awesome weather with a great turnout from the local talent pool. It's great to see such a good platform in the UK for youngsters to get involved. I just hope that everybody at the competition today had as much fun as me."

Met office reports claim the sunny weather is set to retreat today, with most of the country waking up to grey skies. It is expected to brighten later in the evening but the rest of week will bring more cloud and rain, except in the north west of Scotland which will continue to see warm sunshine.