THE Cotswolds was bathed in a heatwave over the Easter weekend of 1987 bringing out tourists and locals in their droves.

Some of the popular tourist attractions across the Cotswolds reported some of their best weekends ever as people were keen to get out and enjoy the sunshine. Manager of Bibury Trout Farm, Mr Ian Peters, said: “It has been our best weekend ever. The information centre was extremely popular and we opened a fishery to allow people to catch fish themselves.”

Over the four days, 8,500 people visited Cotswold Farm Park as they opened over Easter for the first time.

Manager, Elizabeth Henson, said: “There are little baby animals everywhere at the moment, it is the perfect time for people to come and visit and the weather was just right.”

The Corinium Museum welcomed about 2,000 guests as the Ermine Street Guard paraded in full military Roman costume.

Cirencester’s churches too reported their best seasonal attendances. “Attendances were markedly higher than usual for Easter,” commented Canon John Lewis. “At Cirencester Parish Church the church was almost filled to capacity, and it is one of the largest parish churches in England.”

Gardiners, Rackhams and hotels in the town also did very well from the weather.