THE GOVERNMENT has issued a national ‘smog alert’ as Birmingham gets set to sizzle over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) yesterday issued a warning about high levels of ozone and polluting particles known as PM10s, which can have an impact on people’s health.

They say England and Wales could be affected over the weekend because of warm and still conditions brought on by the high pressure system.

Some people, including those who have asthma, may notice an impact on their breathing.

The public is being advised to take “sensible precautions”, including avoiding taking exercise outside in the afternoon, if they are susceptible to the pollutants and not taking unnecessary short car journeys – in a bid to help reduce the build-up of ozone.

The record Easter temperatures are likely to leave the Mediterranean in the shade with the mercury rising to above 25 degrees in the West Midlands.

Holidaymakers jetting to Corfu will shiver in a cool 16 degrees, while sunseekers in Majorca will be under a blanket of cloud at 17 degrees.

And yesterday the Government issued a “smog alert” for the Easter weekend for ozone and polluting particles known as PM10s, which can affect people’s health.

The West Midlands is expected to stay dry, warm and sunny for the majority of the Bank Holiday weekend. However isolated thunderstorms and heavy rain could hit the region tomorrow, but it will remain very warm.

Trains, planes and the roads are expected to be extremely busy during the traditional big Easter getaway. However drivers will be faced with sky-high fuel costs if they are planning to set out on an Easter road trip from the West Midlands.