British summer set to end on a high as heatwave returns

The British summer is set to end on a high with experts saying August is on track to be one of the hottest since records began.

After several days of rain and falling temperatures, forecasters said large parts of the country could expect highs of up to 27C (80.6F) and dry weather.

Those in London, the South East, East Anglia and the Midlands are most likely to enjoy the last of the summer sunshine.

Forecasters are predicting a scorching end to August with the first week in September seeing temperatures rising even further as weather systems settle down.

Prospects for the Bank Holiday weekend are looking bleaker, with temperatures dropping and showers possibly putting a dampener on street celebrations such as Notting Hill Carnival.

Chris Burton, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "It is definitely going to be warm and sunny, with temperatures pushing into the mid-20s throughout much of this week.

"Wednesday and Thursday are looking like the warmest days as the weather gets warmer, sunnier and drier than it has been.

"There will be rain across Scotland, Northern Ireland, the North West and Wales tomorrow and Wednesday, but after that we are expecting temperatures in those areas to reach highs of 21-22C.

"Next weekend things are looking uncertain and a bit unsettled for the bank holiday, with a higher risk of rain across most areas, and it will be a bit cooler."

Heatwave conditions saw the mercury soar to 33.7C (92.6F) at Heathrow airport in west London on August 1, surpassing a previous seven-year high of 33.5C (92.3F) on July 22.

Bookies offered 8/1 that August's hottest temperature would surpass our hottest August from 2003, when temperatures reached 38.5C (101.3F), but so far that benchmark remains intact.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.