July was sunniest since 2006

The July of 2013 has been the warmest, driest and sunniest since 2006 – and today is expected to see a hot start to August too.

The central England temperature of 18.4C was 1.7C above the long-term average during last month and the highest since the record-breaking July of 2006, said Philip Eden, a weather and climate expert.

In the last 100 years only five Julys were warmer, while 95 were cooler.

Today is likely to see a return to temperatures above 30C across parts of England.