SUNSEEKERS enjoyed the warm weather in Bradford yesterday before temperatures were expected to plunge today.

Hundreds of people gathered at district sites including City Park and Lister Park to bask in the warm spring sunshine yesterday.

Yorkshire was among six regions that experienced high pollution yesterday, with Eastern, South East, East Midlands, London and the West Midlands also affected by poor air quality.

Temperatures peaked at 18C in Bradford yesterday afternoon, making it warmer than Barcelona. This beat Thursday's high of 16C.

But there is expected to be a chillier feel to today with temperatures only set to reach 9C.

Revellers took in the sunny conditions in Centenary Square yesterday as adults and children alike splashed about in the Mirror Pool.

Sarow Mohammed, 26, moved to Bradford from his native Kurdistan in 2007 and says the sunny weather reminded his of his birthplace.

He said: "I enjoy this weather.

"It is surprising that it is going to be like this. This is the sort of weather that I'm used to. It's been like this for five days now.

"I was just relaxing and enjoying the sunshine during my lunch break from work."

Rizwana Chaudhary, 27, of Clayton, looked on as her children and niece and nephew enjoyed the water in the Mirror Pool.

She said: "We just decided to come down and enjoy the sunshine today. It was a spur of the moment thing.

"My sister went to Barcelona on Thursday and apparently it's going to be warmer in Bradford than there today."

Sinead Howard, 23, of Wibsey, was in City Park alongside her three children.

She said: "It's better than Blackpool here today.

"It's beautiful. The kids are in the water and I'm on the side having a few drinks."

Nigel Hall, 56, of Riddlesden, enjoyed a sun-kissed lunch break in Centenary Square.

He said: "It's a bit too warm for this time of the year.

"We don't get proper seasons now.

"It's meant to change again over the weekend.