text: Patriotic countrymen and women turned out in their finest red and white today to enjoy St George's Day celebrations in the sunshine. Veteran parades and Morris men were seen across the country, with spectators draped in flags cheering them on. Described by the Prime Minister as 'a day to be celebrate all that makes England great', St George's Day takes place on April 23 every year. With temperatures of around 20C in parts of the country, planned outdoor events were able to go forward. Among them was the annual Nottingham St George's Day Parade which attracted around 200 people. Joined by trucks and horses, the crowd marched through the city centre from Forest Recreation Ground earlier today. Morris dancers kick off the festivities in Leadenhall Market in the City of London this afternoon as the nation celebrates St George's Day . A baby is dressed in appropriate white with red accessories to match the St George's Cross during the annual parade in Nottingham . Revellers carry flags on poles and drape their horses in white and red fabric to march through the centre of Nottingham in traditional dress . In Emsworth in Hampshire, members of the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery lead a local St George's Day Parade with residents watching on . Crowds basked in temperatures of up to 20C in some parts of the country today after a spell of unusually warm weather for this time of year . In Emsworth in Hampshire a group of veterans led the festivities. The men, who belonged to 12 Regiment Royal Artillery, led a procession through the town centre. Their parade was also to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In the City of London, Morris men brightened up Leadenhall Market, dancing through the shopping arcade to the amusement of workers on their lunch break. Temperatures were slightly warmer across England today than on St George's Day last year, with parts of north Yorkshire the warmest at 20.9C. It comes after a week of abnormally warm weather that is set to end tomorrow, said forecasters. 'There is certainly a change on the way, as of tomorrow we'll see wetter fronts,' said Helen Roberts, a Met Office forecaster. 'The first will be affecting south west England and Wales with some rain pushing in through the afternoon on Friday. 'A cold front will creep across Scotland and will be pretty slow moving. That will reach southern England on Sunday bringing some heavy rain at times.' Two women don face masks to take part in the festivities in Nottingham this morning. The event was organised by the Royal St George Society which is 200 years old . Crowds wave flags and march in the sunshine in Nottingham where more than 200 people attended the annual 'Royal Parade' A man sports a chain mail costume in Leadenhall Market in the City of London (left) while another reveller in Nottingham (right) opts for a more contemporary get-up . Morris dancers in Leadenhall Market in the City of London put on a colourful display this afternoon to celebrate St George's Day . St Mary's Ewell Morris men perform to violins as shoppers and city workers take in the festivities at Leadenhall Market this afternoon . St Mary's Ewell Morris men pose for a photograph after performing at Leadenhall Market in the City of London this afternoon . Two women wear traditional costumed in Nottingham to take part in the annual parade. Earlier David Cameron said the day was a time to 'celebrate all that was great with England' A couple take on the part of St George and the Dragon to enjoy the festivities in Leadenhall Market, watching the Morris men perform . Temperatures will drop from the balmy mid-teens to around 11 or 12C, she added. 'It was much more unsettled this time last year though we saw 18.9C on St George's Day in Gravesend in Kent. 'We have had above average temperatures for some time though this year so the drop will be a bit of a shock to the system.' Some rain storms on Sunday may even bring hail to some parts. Earlier politicians chimed in on why they thought St George's Day was important. 'Above Downing Street and all over England, St George's flags are flying high,' said David Cameron. In Emsworth, Hampshire, members of the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery take part in the annual parade, with red roses pinned to their jackets . Veterans of the 12th Regiment Royal Artillery dusted off their medals to take part in the annual event with their younger comrades today . The event was organised by the Lancashire and Cumbrian Gunniers and was also designed to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Second World War . Schoolchildren followed the veterans through the Hampshire town to take part in the celebrations with former Gunniers showing off their medals . Among the England flags being waved were Union Jacks in Nottingham too. Politicians spoke of the St George's significance earlier in the day . A brass band also took part in the parade in Emsworth, Hampshire, to celebrate St George's Day. It was one of several across the country . In Nottingham, left, a pair of parade-goers sported full costume with shields and metal helmets while in Emsworth in Hampshire (right) spectators took a more relaxed approach to the festivities . The parade in Nottingham was organised by the Royal Society of St George, a 200-year-old organisation with branches all over the world . 'Because today is a day to celebrate all that makes England great, a day to feel pride for all that our country has given the world - from Magna Carta to the language of Shakespeare, from the industrial revolution to the world wide web. 'A country whose artists and athletes inspire millions and whose influence extends right across the world. 'So today let us all be proud of our country's great past and confident about our future.' Ukip sparked controversy by claiming George, who is thought to have been of Turkish descent, was accepted into Britain because he could slay dragons. Asked whether a 3rd Century Ukip politician would have welcomed the saint, the party's economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn joked: 'Well, I guess dragon-slaying is a skill but whether it is one that's in short supply for the needs of the British economy, we will leave to our migration commission. 'Whenever the issue of St George's Day comes up - and I can predict this on Twitter today - there will be many left-centre people who will tweet the fact that St George was from what's today known as Turkey as if that is the start, finish of conversation and that makes St George's Day irrelevant or illegitimate or ridiculous. 'I completely disagree ... I'm not particularly hung up on where St George came from. I'm more interested in what St George's Day can represent.' In Alnwick Garden, in Northumberland, gardener Simon Greenwood prunes a cherry blossom in the orchard. The area enjoyed some of the highest temperatures of the day . Sammy Nicholson, one, admires daffodils in Alnwick Garden in Northumberland on one of the last of the sunny days for a while . In Derbyshire this morning clear conditions were seen, with a rogue grouse wandering across the grass-lined road in Foolow . A couple watch passing boats at Lulworth Cove in Dorset on another warm day. The weather is set to change over the weekend however with rain and cloud pushing its way over most of the country . Hill walkers and geology students take in the view at Lulworth Cove in Dorset on one of the last of the sunny, summer days for a while . Three kayakers are dwarfed by the huge Man O War Rocks at St Oswald's Bay in Dorset. The UK has been enjoying unusually warm weather . Five-year-old Edward Smith lies in a field of fresh strawberries after spending the day at Goodalls Strawberry Farm in Lymington, Hampshire . Farmer Brian Goodall holds up his bumper crop of strawberries. The warmer weather meant the fruits ripened earlier this year than usual . Light fog was seen over Beeley Moor in Derbyshire this morning on another balmy morning. As of tomorrow temperatures will drop . Forecasters warned the weekend weather may be 'a shock to the system' after a spell of warmer than usual weather. Above, a country scene in Foolow, Derbyshire . A calf poses for a portrait in Foolow, Derbyshire, this morning. Colder temperatures and showers are expected to set in over the weekend .
target: Revellers took part in outdoor parades and Morris dancing to celebrate St George's Day across the country .
  Temperatures soared to 20.9C in north Yorkshire but forecasters warned colder, wetter weather was on the way .
  From tomorrow the weather will return to what is normal for this time of year with clouds and highs of around 12C .