Very warm, even hot weather will be felt right across the UK on Wednesday with temperatures widely in the low to mid-twenties.

The hottest weather will be in south-east England where the thermometer is expected to reach 27C and it will become the warmest spell of April weather for seven years.

And with around 26C forecast in south Wales, there is a chance it could be Wales’ hottest April day on record exceeding the previous record of 26.2C on 16 April 2003 at Gogerddan (Ceredigion).

UV levels will be high for most of the UK, though moderate in the far north of Scotland.

The heat builds even further on Thursday across England and Wales with temperatures in the mid to high twenties forecast, and 29C possible.

If that is the case, the record for the warmest start to May would be exceeded by a good few degrees.

However, for Scotland and Northern Ireland, it will turn cooler with some cloud and showers. Temperatures will actually fall to around the early May average of 13 to 17C.

With increasing humidity on Thursday, there will also be a risk of heavy and thundery showers in parts of Wales, the Midlands and eastern England.