UK weather: Hottest day of the year followed by showers and patches of sun this weekend

The hottest temperature was recorded in Essex

A dog cools off in Hyde Park's Round Pond in warm weather on July 3, 2014 in London, England. Southern England has recorded the highest temperature of the year so far at 27.7C (81.8F) in Essex. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Friday is the hottest day of the year so far, and the final chance for sunseekers in some parts of the UK to bask in the heat before the weather cools over the weekend.

The highest temperature so far recorded on Friday was in Writtle, Essex, where the mercury soared to 28.5 degrees Celsius - half a degree higher than Ibiza, Spain.

Meanwhile in Scotland, the northwest and parts of Wales, people were hit with showers and missed out on the hot weather scorching parts of the south.

Over the weekend, average high-teen temperatures for July will return, as rain showers and patchy sun are set to return across the UK, according to the Met Office.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey explained that the weather front affecting Scotland, the northwest and Wales will slowly move across the UK through Saturday morning.

“The front will move away from the UK as we head to Saturday morning. Behind that weather front is some slightly cooler weather."

She added that the showers could be heavy while other areas will only experience drizzle.

The risk of showers is reduced by Sunday, when longer periods of sunshine will be more likely.