Heatwave to reach peak this weekend

Much of Britain is set to enjoy the hottest weekend of the year so far with temperatures rising to 30C, the Meteorological Office said yesterday.

Much of Britain is set to enjoy the hottest weekend of the year so far with temperatures rising to 30C, the Meteorological Office said yesterday.

Sunny and warm weather is expected to last at least until the middle of next week with forecasters delivering good news for holidaymakers in the UK for most of August when temperatures are expected to be at the seasonal average in the low 20s.

The highest temperatures are expected early next week and may even trigger a new warning system introduced by the Government to tell the public it has become dangerously hot.

The plan, unveiled by the Government's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson, is designed to reduce the number of deaths due to hot weather. Last summer's heatwave in England, which ran from 4 to 13 August, is estimated to have caused 2,000 deaths in the UK.