WHEN a great authority on travel — highly respected journalist Simon Calder — says the Isle of Wight is head and shoulders the sunniest place in the UK, you sit up, take notice and slap on the factor 30.

Simon has trawled through 30 years of Met Office data, to reveal the Isle of Wight averages more than five hours of sunshine per day — more than any other place in the UK.

"The Island resort of Shanklin is the brightest location of all," he adds.

The Island averages 5hrs 8mins per day, according to Simon, in an article he wrote for The Independent.

Only Kent comes close on the mainland, an average of 19 minutes per day less.

South Glamorgan is the sunniest place in Wales, but when it comes to Scotland and Northern Ireland, Simon joked: "Leave those sunglasses at home."