SPRING has officially sprung, and in doing so has last week brought with it some of the warmest March weather for five years.

With sunny days and fluffy white clouds marking the beginning of the week, there was plenty to be chipper about - although blue skies did make way for mid-week murkiness and spells of persistent rain.

But let's look at the positives. The clocks going forward means the nights are getting lighter and temperatures are set to stay in double figures throughout the next few days at the very least.

The first day of spring, known as the spring equinox, was on March 20, but to most of us spring has not arrived until the daffodils start to appear.

This year it seems the warmer weather helped the daffodils to bloom well before the equinox, with hundreds of yellow petals covering the landscape of Duddon woods near Millom.

The same can be said at Spoon Hall, in Coniston, where young Harry Sharp beams from ear to ear while holding his chicken, Honey.

And in Whitbeck, those blues skies would bring a smile to anyone's face - and if the sheep could show it, they would surely be smiling too.