UK weather: Britain set for hottest day of the year on Saturday as temperatures make south east of the country warmer than Madrid and Corfu

Forecasters 'pretty confident' Saturday will be hottest day of the year

"Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May", Shakespeare famously whinged, but the Bard's windy worries would seem to be unfounded this weekend as the country looks set to enjoy the hottest weather of the year so far.

Saturday will see Britons in the the south east basking in glorious sunshine and could see temperatures soar to 24C (75F).

Forecasters expect the London to be hotter than Madrid and to break the current record for the hottest day of the year so far which was recorded on April 28 in Aviemore, Scotland when temperatures hit a balmy 22C (71.6F).

Mark Wilson of the Met Office said: "We are going to see a day by day increase in the temperatures. Through the course of today I think we could quite easily see 21C, possibly 22C, in the south east.

"I think the south east is most likely to see the highest temperatures."

Mr Wilson said by tomorrow temperatures could reach 22C or 23C (73.4), with the greatest chance of this being in the London area.

The forecaster said some areas may get near 25C (77F) this weekend.

"I definitely think there's a chance the odd spot could approach 25C," he said, adding that there is a good chance the south east corner of England could see temperatures of 24C or 25C.

Mr Wilson said forecasters were "pretty confident we will see the warmest day of the year so far".