Britain set to sizzle in second heatwave 'that will be even hotter than the first'

A second heatwave is expected to hit the UK (Dobson Age/REX Shutterstock)

Britain is set to sizzle once again with some forecasters predicting that a second looming heatwave will be even hotter than the first.

Temperatures in some areas could soar to an uncomfortable 39C by the end of the month as a plume of hot air moves in from Africa, according to several reports.

It is expected to be hotter than the 36.7C high recorded at Heathrow Airport last Wednesday.

Bikinis were at the ready in West Wittering, West Sussex, last week (Mike Walker/REX Shutterstock)

And it may even see the country’s 2003 record temperature of 38.5C being smashed.

There will be some pain before the scorching pleasure, however, as a series of summer showers are expected to hit this week.

“The year’s hottest temperatures usually occur in late July or early August,” said The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze.

Meerkats enjoy some ice cold drinks at Exmoor Zoo last week (John Hammond/ REX Shutterstock)

“As pressure models favour more African hot air over Europe pulsing to the UK, the 38.5C record could go,” he added.

Met Office forcecasters said it was “too early to tell” how hot it would get.

But Simon Partridge said that temperatures “certainly look warm after July 19 in the South and another plume would make it hot.”

Beachgoers in West Wittering, West Sussex, last week (Mike Walker/REX Shutterstock)