Gloomy weather was predicted for Brighton and Hove this week – but every cloud has a silver lining.

The Met Office warned on Tuesday that the city was set for up to 25mm of rain and possible thunderstorms due to a “deeply unstable airmass”.

But the umbrellas were put away when the rain and storms failed to arrive on the south coast, instead striking further inland.

Weather experts are predicting a cloudy but dry run to Bank Holiday Monday, with clear skies increasing chances of frost on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Temperatures will remain between 13 to 14 degrees from today until the end of the weekend.

Monday is set to be warmer, however, at around 16 degrees – but Met Office forecasters say the Bank Holiday will have a significant lack of sunshine.

In Pulborough a carpet of lilac is covering the floor of the Brooks RSPB Nature Reserve with bluebells putting on a spectacular show.

The flowers are blooming three weeks early due to a warmer spring.