A huge blast of heat is set to bake the country, ending what has been a disappointing month for weather.

The Met Office is forecasting very high temperatures across Kent on Friday, with a long-lasting peak of 30°C set to be reached.

This temperature will be unchanged between 1pm and 5pm, meaning there'll be plenty of time to sunbathe.

While most of west Kent is expected to reach 30°C on the mercury scale, some areas in The Weald and Swale - such as Tenterden and Faversham - could top that at 31°C.

However some isolated areas should prepare for even hotter spikes, with a Met Office spokesman saying: "We’re expecting (Friday) temperatures to potentially get to 33, certainly isolated 33s, which may just get the warmest day of the year, though there was a 33.4 in June.

"We’ve not seen a temperature anywhere above 30 so far or even with a three in it - that is quite unusual for July.”

Friday's weather is even more unusual for this July, as it has been cooler than previous years.

Already England has surpassed 100% average rainfall for the month and its average temperature is at just 14.1°C - 1.1 degrees below the July average from 1981 to 2010.

Saturday and Sunday will be hotter than most recent days, however they will both present significant overcast spells.

For all the forecasts, warnings and weather related news, click here.

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