UK weather: More hot weather on the way as temperatures set to soar as high as 36C later this week

More hot weather is on the way for large parts of the UK, with temperatures set to reach as high as 36C (96.8F) later this week.

Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said there will be a "warm spell across the UK", with the highest temperatures "focused in the southeast of England".

"At the minute and with high confidence, we are expecting 34C to 36C (93.2F to 96.8F) by Friday and Saturday," Ms Diamond added.

The high temperatures are the result of southerly winds moving from Europe and high pressure patterns that are set to kick in from around Thursday.

The predicted warm weather comes after the UK recorded its third hottest day on record last Friday, when the mercury topped 37.8C (100F) at Heathrow Airport.

The coastguard said it had one of its busiest days in years, while councils said that beaches were "unmanageable" as Britons flocked to the seaside to enjoy the heat.

Forecasters, however, say there will be a "mixed start" to this week.

On Tuesday, heavy rain is forecast in Northern Ireland and Scotland, while southern parts of the UK continue to enjoy sunny spells.

Yellow weather warnings are in place in parts of central and eastern Scotland for Tuesday, with threats of flooding and localised disruption.

By Wednesday, the weather will start to settle down, Ms Diamond said, adding: "It is going to turn hot across the South East, where temperatures are going to be well into the 30s."

However, the heat could trigger thunderstorms on Friday and Saturday.

The highest ever UK temperature remains 38.7C (102F), which was recorded on 25 July 2019 in Cambridge University Botanic Garden.