Britain basks in the beauty of summer: Heatwave will last for at least another WEEK 'with balmy temperatures as high as 30C'

Temperatures will temporarily dip today and tomorrow to low 20s, before soaring again on Friday

London expected to see best of sweltering temperatures today, while north will also climb to around 28C

High of 29.6C recorded yesterday in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire, as weekend's glorious weather continued




Sun worshippers were rejoicing today after it was revealed the hot weather Britain has been enjoying over the past few days could last into the weekend.

Temperatures will temporarily dip today and tomorrow to the low 20s, before soaring again on Friday - possibly holding up until Sunday.

London was expected to see the best of the sweltering temperatures across the UK yesterday, while the north of England was also climbing to around 28C.

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Picturesque: A man takes a break from the searing heat and cools off in Derwentwater in the Lake District yesterday, as the UK continues to bask in a heatwave Oar inspiring: People take a break from the searing heat and cool off in Derwentwater in the Lake District yesterday, as the whole of the UK continues to bask in haet Peace and tranquility: A dog runs throught water and a plane flies overhead in beautiful scenes from Derwentwater in the Lake District

Going for a paddle: A man and two women make the most of the warm weather in Derwentwater in the Lake District as the UK basked in sunshine again

Splashing about As people took a break from the heat in Derwentwater in the Lake District, it was revealed temperatures will temporarily dip today and tomorrow Sunbathing: Derwentwater in the Lake District made for a picture postcard scene today as Britain basked in hot temperatures that will last for another week Piggy backs: A group of friends play around at the seaside in Aberystwyth on the west Wales coast, as the whole of Britain experienced a beautiful day again Busy day: The heatwave continues on a packed Bournemouth beach yesterday as sun seekers flocked to the sand and took shade under parasols Aid: Beach Patrol Officer Alex Garrod is pictured on a rescue board helping a swimmer to shore who got into difficulty near Blackpool Pier in Lancashire What a day: This peaceful scene shows how sun seekers were enjoying the hot weather in a boat at the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, central London Taking it easy: Three sun seekers enjoy the hot weather in a boat at the picturesque Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, central London What's for lunch then? A woman sits on a deckchair as she enjoys her surroundings and the hot weather by the Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park in central London Hosed: Alex the Ruppell's Griffon Vulture is cooled in its enclosure at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling as temperatures continue to rise across Scotland

Take on water: Alex the Ruppell's Griffon Vulture is cooled and enjoys a drink of water in its enclosure at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling

This meant the top half of the country was finally enjoying the same highs as the south after averaging around 24C over the past few days.

The weekend of glorious weather continued as people returned to work Monday, with a high of 29.6C recorded in Lee-On-Solent in Hampshire.

This was just shy of the 29.7C reached in Bournemouth on Sunday, which marked the hottest day of the year so far.

However, it was markedly cooler across the North Sea coast of England and Scotland, where Donna Nook in Lincolnshire peaked at only 16C.

Yesterday afternoon's 28C summer hotspots were said by BBC Weather to be the Solent; Durham; Strathallan, Perthshire; and Derrylin, Northern Ireland.

Strathallan got up to 28.4C, making it Scotland's warmest day this year, the Met Office said.



Photo moment: Two girls enjoy the sun this afternoon on the South Bank in central London as the capital city enjoyed another day of warm weather

In the sunshine: Sunbathers enjoy sitting outside on the South Bank in central London as the capital city enjoyed a beautiful day, like the rest of the country Shielding her eyes: A woman lies down on the grass on the South Bank in central London as people across Britain made the most of the warm weather

What a scorcher: People enjoy the sunshine on Brighton Beach in East Sussex as the hot weather continues across the UK

Sunbathing: People enjoy the sunshine on Brighton Beach in East Sussex, with the famous pier in the background, as the hot weather continues across the UK

Fun times: Sisters Morgan, nine and Rosie Gillespie, 18 months, from Blyth visit Blyth beach, Northumberland, during the hot weather that the UK has been enjoying Colourful: Sisters Lauren (left), 23 and Ashley Johnstone (right), 25, from Gateshead, enjoy the heatwave at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, during the hot weather Avoiding the heat: Billy the eagle owl gets a shower from 7-year-old Hannah May to cool off in Havant, Hampshire, which was just one part of Britain experiencing the heat Dripping wet: Billy the eagle owl looks bedraggled but enjoys his shower from 7-year-old Hannah May in Havant, Hampshire

Under his umbrella: Billy the eagle owl is back in the shade and looking his normal self following his shower in Havant, Hampshire



In the water: The New Brighton seaside resort in Merseyside was packed with sun-seekers yesterday, with the north of England expected to climb to around 28C

Making the most of it: Swimmers and lifeguards were pictured at New Brighton in Merseyside, as the weekend of glorious weather continued into the week

Great view: A woman reads a book at Greenwich Park in south-east London, overlooking the Shard and Gherkin buildings in the centre of the capital Soaking it up: Pesala Bandara, 24, enjoying the sun in Sarehole Mill, Birmingham, as the good weather continues into the week with temperatures staying near 30C Sun-loving: People enjoying the hot weather at Victoria Embankment on the River Trent in Nottingham, as the hot weather which the UK has been experiencing continues On the grass: People enjoy the sunshine on Victoria Embankment on the River Trent in Nottingham, with the hot weather in Britain expected to last into the weekend

Getting into the water: Surfers enjoy the hot weather at the Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, as Britain's heatwave continues On board: Surfers enjoy the hot weather at the Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, with the current heatwave in Britain expected to last until at least Sunday

On your head be it: Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, was packed with surfers enjoying the waves and sunshine as Britain's heatwave continues

Life's a beach: Holidaymakers who were not surfing in the sea still enjoyed the hot weather at the beautiful Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall Balancing act: Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, was packed with surfers enjoying themselves as the country bathed in sunshine and warmth for another day in a row



While the sunshine is not unusual for July it is above average, said Andy Ratcliffe, meteorologist for MeteoGroup.

‘In the middle part of the week the weather will get cooler but still warm, to around the low 20s,’ he added.

‘But it will pick up again in time for the weekend and should last through to Sunday.

‘Past that it is hard to be certain, but we don’t have much rain at all forecast for the next seven-to-10 days.’

Broadcast meteorologist Chris Fawkes said on Twitter: 'Heatwave continues for many for another good week plus. Highest temperatures to hit low 30Cs.'



But police have warned of the dangers of cooling off in open water after a 17-year-old boy died while swimming in a lake at an old quarry.

Smoking: The heatwave is being enjoyed by many but causing problems for others in New Brighton, Merseyside, with firefighters called out to a grass fire Under control: Firefighters were called out to a grass fire in New Brighton, Merseyside, which was believed to have been caused by the dry weather Refreshing: Baby Asian Elephant Nayan Hi-Way takes a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo in Cheshire Water fun: Zoo keepers from Chester Zoo in Cheshire use a hose to cool down the Asian Elephants from the hot weather as temperatures soared in Britain Cute: Young Asian Elephants Nayan, and babies Hari and Bala Hi-Way take a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo in Cheshire Getting wet: Zoo Keepers from Chester Zoo use a hose to cool down the Asian Elephants (left) from the hot weather. Baby Bala Hi-Way is pictured (right)

Playing around: Baby Asian Elephants Hari and Bala Hi-Way take a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo in Cheshire

Little squirt: Baby Asian Elephant Nayan Hi-Way takes a dip in the pool to cool down from the hot weather at Chester Zoo in Cheshire Across Britain: Baby Asian Elephant Nayan Hi-Way (left) takes a dip at Chester Zoo. A satellite image is seen (right) from Dundee Satellite Receiving Station yesterday

Daredevils: Young people jump into Grand Canal Dock in Dublin city centre on what was expected top be the hottest day of the year in Ireland so far Jumping in: The youngsters were jumping off a bridge into Grand Canal Dock in Dublin city centre as temperatures soared in Ireland Giving the thumbs up: Jumping in to Grand Canal Dock was clearly a popular sport if you were a young person in Dublin city centre Dive bomb: Young people jump into Grand Canal Dock in Dublin city centre and play about on what was expected to be the hottest day of the year in Ireland this year



Russell O’Neill, of Worcester, had been swimming at Gullet Quarry near Malvern in Worcestershire when he failed to resurface on Saturday afternoon.

The teenager’s body was recovered by a dive team from South Wales Police at 4.50pm. West Mercia Police were not treating his death as suspicious.

Meanwhile, researchers have linked soaring temperatures and a rise in the number of emergency admissions for accidental injury among children.

As the mercury climbs, more and more youngsters are admitted to hospital because of accidents, according to healthcare data analysts CHKS.