Sweltering weather has hit the UK this Spring Bank Holiday weekend with the Met Office expecting even hotter conditions this week. The forecaster reported record-breaking highs of 34.8C at Kew Gardens, London, on Monday (May 25) with the mercury set to climb to 35C on Tuesday.

According to the Met Office, this weekend's heatwave was marked by the hottest temperature recorded in meteorological spring (March, April and May), as well as the highest temperature in May. A total of eight areas across the UK can now expect an even warmer 35C on Tuesday with the wider nation set for temperatures exceeding 30C. The heat will then continue throughout the rest of the week, with highs of 31C forecast on Wednesday and 30C on Thursday. It will cool slightly to 27C on Friday and 28C on Saturday.

The Met Office said London, Cambridgeshire and the Home Counties will see temperatures peak at 35C on Tuesday. The Home Counties include Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

Meanwhile, eastern Wales, and eastern, southern and central England can expect temperatures of over 30C on Tuesday. The Met Office says coastal areas can expect slightly cooler weather.

Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, Steve Kocher, said: "It is likely that the May and Spring UK temperature records will be broken over the Bank Holiday weekend, with forecast temperatures surpassing the existing record of 32.8°C. As well as it being hot, there will be lots of dry and sunny weather for much of the UK."

The recorded 34.8C in Kew Gardens on Monday beat the previous record of 32.8C recorded in May back in 1922 and 1944. The record was also beaten at Heathrow, Greater London (34.4C); Northolt, Greater London (34.2C); Teddington Bushy Park, Middlesex (34.0C), Benson, Oxfordshire (33.6C); Wisley, Surrey (33.3C); Reading University, Berkshire (33.2C); Wellesbourne, Warwickshire (33.2C); Cippenham, Berkshire (33.0C); Brize Norton, Oxfordshire (32.9C); Charlwood, Surrey (32.9C); Houghton Hall, Norfolk (32.9C) and Santon Downham, Suffolk (32.9C).

Met Office Chief Operational Meteorologist Dan Suri said: "We’ve now provisionally broken the spring and May temperature record. Meteorologically, what we’ve seen is the influence of warmth building under an area of high pressure near the UK allowing exceptional heat to build allowing maximum and minimum temperatures to reach levels not previously reported at this time of year.

"Further heat is in the forecast for much of England and Wales, with similar temperatures forecast for Tuesday. High pressure is forecast to gradually lose its influence later in the week, though maximum temperatures will still remain high and in the low 30°Cs for some mid-week and high 20°Cs late this week."