South east London and north Kent is set to bask in a mini-heatwave this weekend as temperatures climb to 30C.

Westerly winds and high pressure from today (July 30) will raise temperatures to normal for this time of year after days of damp and dreary weather.

And the mercury will rise sharply after frosty conditions and overnight temperatures as low as 4C or 5C at the end of this week.

The Met Office said London and the south east could see highs just shy of 30C on Sunday as the rest of the UK basks in the mid-20s.

Today will be dry and mostly sunny across south east London and north Kent with temperatures rising to highs of 21C followed by a dry but chilly night.

Forecasters predict another fine and dry day tomorrow with sunshine spells, light winds and a high of 23C.

A cloudy start is expected on Saturday but this will quickly clear to make way for the sunshine and hot weather on Sunday.

Experts say it could be even warmer still on Monday with a risk of showers.

Moving into August, the south is expected to get a better deal than the north, which is expected to endure the worst of any unsettled conditions.

The Met Office outlook for the month states: "There are signals for a continuation of a north-south spilt in the weather during the middle of August.

“The north is likely to see the most frequent spells of wind and rain, with the best of the drier and more settled conditions in the south, although some outbreaks of rain are likely to reach here at times.

"Temperatures on the whole will be near or a little below average for the time of year, especially in the north, although in any settled spells of weather in the South temperatures may become rather warm at times."