The UK is expected to see its hottest temperature of the year so far later this week - but the Met Office has dampened hopes of a heatwave.
Meteorologists said that high pressure conditions are settling in for the coming week, with clear skies allowing more of the May sunshine to reach ground level. This will gradually raise temperatures, which are forecast to hit highs of up to 25°C in some parts of the country by Thursday.
But the Met Office experts have once again played down reports of an 'African plume' heatwave heading our way from southern Europe. Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said: "If you have heard media hyperbole that a heatwave driven by an African plume will bring intense heat to the UK in the next few days you are going to be disappointed – this isn't true."
