UK set to be hotter than Greece and Spain as heat bomb set to hit this week

Time to bask in the sunshine!

The south of England could reach 21C on Thursday, the Met Office says, four degrees above the expected high in Athens and five degrees higher than Barcelona.

Dry, sunny conditions will see temperatures soar according to the Met Office.

On the same day, South Wales and Somerset could reach 20C (68F) and may be hotter than Barcelona, where 16C (61F) is the expected high.

Northern Ireland and northwest Scotland had some rain and cloud on Monday morning, but the weather is generally expected to remain dry and sunny across the country throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend.

Spokesman for the Met Office, Stephen Dixon said many in the UK had 'a fine dry and sunny day' with temperatures that were 'well above average for the time of year and that theme is set to continue'.

Predicting a 'settled period' for the UK's weather, he said it will 'possibly get as high as 21C on Thursday'.

Mr Dixon said high pressure is set to be near or over the UK in the coming week and into the weekend, leading to warm and dry conditions.

In the South West it is set to be a 'touch breezier' but will still feel warmer than average.

Temperatures are likely to gradually drop on Saturday but will still hover around the mid-teens, higher than the UK's average for April of 12C.

April's record high was a summery 29.4C (84F), recorded in Camden Square, London, in 1949, Met Office records show.

It is predicted that this week we might see the highest temperature of the year so far.