Pack your sun cream and head to north Kent, because today Gravesend is once again the hottest place in the country.

Mediterranean temperatures have descended on the town with mercury expected to hit a maximum of 27.6C this afternoon.

Most of the south east is to remain hot and humid for most of the day due to unstable air coming up from France coinciding with daytime heating.

But make the most of it while you can as the Met Office as issued a yellow warning of heavy rain on Monday with a risk of lighter rain continuing into much of the week.

Gravesend is often recorded as the warmest part of the UK because the weather station in Broadness, just north of Swanscombe, is surrounded by sandy soil which heats up easily compared with surrounding areas which have clay soil.

The site is also sheltered by an embankment which has an additional effect on the reading.

Gravesend held the UK record briefly in 2003 after reaching a sweltering 38.1C.