Britain braced for two-day heatwave as temperatures set soar this week

Forecasters predict highs of around 30C today in London

Temperatures are expected to rise to around 28C in central, eastern and southern England (PA)

Britain is to enjoy a two-day heatwave, extending one of the hottest summers the country has seen in recent years

The mercury has been gradually climbing over the last few days and temperatures are expected to rise to around 28C in central, eastern and southern England today.

They are expected to rise even further, peaking at 30C in the capital.

James Wilby, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, the weather division for the Press Association, said it is too early to say if it will be the last of the summer sunshine.

“It's gradually been picking up over the last few days but today will be really warm. Most of England and Wales will see between 25C to 28C but London could reach 29C,” he said.

”London will see the best of the weather tomorrow too, possibly 30C. It will be cooler in Wales, in the north and in Scotland though.

“It's too early to say if this will be last of the hot weather this summer, as there's a chance we could get another wave of hot weather this month.

”But the closer we get to autumn the less chance there is.“

The weather will however take a turn for the worse at the end of the week with heavy rain expected across parts of the UK.

The hottest day of the year so far was August 1, when temperatures reached 33.7C (92.6F) at Heathrow Airport in west London, surpassing the previous seven-year high of 33.5C (92.3F) on July 22.