Temperatures soar across the south

Hot weather has swept across southern England, with Tuesday touted as the UK's hottest day of the year so far.

Temperatures peaked at 31.7C in Otterbourne, Hampshire and reached 25C at St Catherine's Point on the Isle of Wight.

Bournemouth Airport in Dorset recorded 30.9C, with Benson in Oxfordshire climbing to 29.5C and Reading University in Berkshire sweltering at 30C.

Southern England is expected to have a heatwave officially declared in the coming days, according to weather experts.

The Met Office defines a heatwave, external in the UK as when a location records a period of "at least three consecutive days with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold."

A yellow weather warning, external for thunderstorms has been issued by the meteorological service for parts of Hampshire from 12:00 BST on Wednesday.

From 01:00 until 23:59 on Thursday, the yellow weather warning has been extended across the entire south region, including Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

The MET Office has warned of possible power cuts, flooding and difficult driving conditions.

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