AS the mercury rises to the upper 20s Centigrade, here's a look back to the days when the temperature was measured in Fahrenheit.

It was the summer of 1990, more than a quarter of a century ago, when Worcester News weatherman Paul Damari forecast that temperature records were likely to be broken as the heat on the streets rose to 80 degrees F – or around 27C.

Escaping the blazing sun were Julie Bristow, of Ronkswood, Worcester, and Maria Davie, of Pershore, who slipped into their cossies for a dip in the river Teme at Powick.

As luck would have it, one of our photographers just happened to be passing. Probably on his way to take pictures of a fishing match, so there was really no contest.