Heatwave to return for Bank Holiday scorcher to cap off the warmest May since records began

Forecasters predict soaring temperatures for next weekend, to cap off this record-breaking scorcher of a May.

The chilly weather that has returned in the past week - and will hang around for several days to come - should vanish just in time for a day off work on the beach.

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Last week: Surfer splashes through the North Sea in Newcastle while enjoying a May scorcher

Experts have confirmed that the first half of the month was the hottest for May in almost 175 years.

They say the unseasonable weather was caused by an area of high pressure over the North Sea which "dragged in" hot air from the South East.

Forecaster Paul Mott, from Meteogroup, said: "We are now seeing that high pressure moving away to the West, so we are going to get colder North-East winds coming in.

"Over the next four or five days it will be quite a lot cooler, but it will warm up by next weekend."

Today, southern parts of the country will continue to be cloudy with the likelihood of showers and even thunder.

The conditions will be drier and brighter further north with just a few light showers.

By Sunday afternoon, the rain will clear from southern parts, and much of England will enjoy sunny spells with intermittent showers.

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Brighton: Crowds flocked to the beach during the fine May weather

Temperatures could return to the low 20s by the end of next week, but that change may also bring rain to western areas.

During the last Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of the month, temperatures reached 79f (26c) in Exeter, London and Manchester.

In Great Malvern, Worcestershire, the mercury hit 81.5f (27.5c) - around 22f (12c) higher than average and the hottest temperature to date anywhere in the country in