WINDS and rain are on the way across south Essex this week as the Easter school holidays begin.

The Met Office say it is likely to be an unsettled Easter weekend and thereafter as dull conditions hit the county.

This weekend, many children across Essex have broken up for the Easter school holidays for two weeks.

The first week of the holidays will see cloudy and rainy spells across Southend and Basildon.

Temperatures will range from highs of 12C to around lows of 7C.

Despite much of the week looking cloudy with rain expected on Monday and Tuesday, there will be a few bright spells.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: “Next week begins with some uncertainty, but it looks likely that we will see a return towards more widely unsettled conditions as another area of low pressure pushes across the UK with changeable weather likely largely dominating throughout this period.

“Most areas look likely to see further showers and some longer spells of rain at times, although interspersed with some drier spells in between.

“It looks likely that a north - south split could set up across the UK.

“The wettest weather will tend to favour the south whilst northern parts remain a bit drier on average.

“In association with this split in general temperatures will be close to average, but it will be occasionally cooler in the north, and milder in south.”