Britons are being urged to get outdoors and make the most of the sunshine in order to protect their bones.
Exposure to sunlight is important as it triggers the production of vitamin D inside our bodies.
This in turn is important for maintaining healthy bones, as the vitamin helps to ensure we take up enough calcium from the food we eat, according to Dr Helen Macdonald, chair of the National Osteoporosis Society's Nutrition and Lifestyle Forum.
She advised: 'We are definitely not advocating spending lengthy periods in the sun, as too much time spent unprotected in the sun can cause skin ageing and melanoma.
'Getting regular sun exposure for small amounts of time, then making sure the skin is protected is best.'
Cancer Research UK also recommends spending a small amount of time in the sun each day, rather than total avoidance in a bid to minimise the risk of skin cancer.
According to the charity's website, 'generally only a few minutes in the summer sun in the middle of the day without sun protection ensures you make enough vitamin D'.
However, people should never spend so much time without sun protection that their skin reddens or burns.