When is it officially springtime in the UK?

Hands up how many of you are desperate for a bit of sun on your backs after what seems and endless, cold and frustrating winter of discontent?

Here yesterday, the sun warmed us to a glowing 17 degrees centigrade with barely a puff of cloud all day.

It felt very spring-like and although we can still get severely cold weather, the clock is ticking down to official spring - but, how many people actually know when the spring equinox is?

"2009 Perihelion Jan - Equinoxes Mar 20 11.44 Sept 22 21.18 Aphelion - July - Solstices June 21 05.45 Dec 21 17.47"

• According to the US Naval Oceanography Portal, the spring equinox will begin on the 20th March 2009 at 11.44am.
• The summer Solstice is June 21st at 6.06pm (note in 2008 the summer solstice took place on the 20th June at 11.59pm)
• The autumn equinox will take place at 9.18pm on 22nd September.
• The winter solstice on the 21st December at Dec 5.47pm.