Much of Britain was basking in sunshine early on Tuesday as colourful dawn skies provided a spectacle for nature lovers.

A sunflower maze on Merseyside was further enhanced by some dazzling celestial colours early in the morning.

In Dorset, early visitors to beaches had the additional spectacle of a gathering of cruise ships to admire as they enjoyed the sun, sea and sand.

The Sunflower Maze at dawn (Peter Byrne/PA)
A sunflower at dawn in Tarbock, Merseyside (Peter Byrne/PA)
Cruise ships near Bournemouth
A swimmer in the water at Sandbanks looks out at the cruise ships Queen Elizabeth (left), Arcadia and Aurora (Steve Parsons/PA)
The SR U Class steam locomotive 31806 passes Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway, as it travels between Norden and Swanage (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The SR U Class steam locomotive 31806 passes Corfe Castle on the Swanage Railway, as it travels between Norden and Swanage (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Paddle boarders at Sandbanks pass the cruise ships Queen Elizabeth (left) and Arcadia anchored in Poole Bay off the Dorset coast (Steve Parsons/PA)
The sun rises behind the Sunflower Maze in Tarbock, Merseyside (Peter Byrne/PA)
A view of the cruise ships from Studland beach (Steve Parsons/PA)
A view of the cruise ships from Studland beach (Steve Parsons/PA)
Dawn colours over Bingham, Nottinghamshire (Neil Squires/PA)
Dawn colours over Bingham, Nottinghamshire (Neil Squires/PA)
Summer weather Aug 4th 2020
Dawn colours over electrictiy pylons at Bingham (Neil Squires/PA)
Summer weather Aug 4th 2020
Sea kayakers paddle around Old Harry Rocks on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset (Andrew Matthews/PA)
A sailing boat makes its way past Old Harry Rocks (Andrew Matthews/PA)
A sailing boat makes its way past Old Harry Rocks (Andrew Matthews/PA)