Over the May Day bank holiday weekend, a range of cheese-themed events unfolded across England despite varied weather conditions. In Dorset, the annual Cheese Run took place on the famous ‘Hovis Hill’ in Gold Hill, Shaftesbury, as part of the Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival’s 20th anniversary. Participants, including men, women, and children, raced uphill with 55lb blocks of cheese amid damp weather conditions. Spectators gathered to watch the competitors tackle the 236ft cobbled course.

Simultaneously in Randwick, Gloucestershire, a traditional cheese-related ceremony occurred where three Double Gloucesters were blessed and rolled around the village churchyard. This part of an ancient local festival took place despite rainfall, contributing to the weekend’s festivities that highlighted British cultural quirks.

The weekend’s weather, as reported by the Met Office, was a mix of showers, clouds, and intervals of sunshine, with temperatures reaching up to 19°C in some central areas like Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Looking forward, the weather across the UK is expected to improve with conditions becoming drier and temperatures gradually increasing.

In London, the upcoming week’s weather includes a yellow thunderstorm warning issued by the Met Office for Monday afternoon, affecting southern parts of the capital and the South East with potential flooding and travel disruptions. Despite this, warmer temperatures of up to 23°C and sunnier weather are forecasted towards the weekend, with conditions stabilising by Wednesday.

Meteorologists from the Met Office, including Deputy Chief Meteorologist Mark Sidaway and meteorologist Greg Dewhurst, advised residents to be prepared for an unpredictable mix of sunshine and showers throughout the week.