TEMPERATURES in Bury are forecast to soar later this week – with highs of 24 degrees Celsius expected.

Cloud cover on Wednesday is forecast to restrict temperature to highs of 19 degrees Celsius. However, this is due to clear over the subsequent days, with highs of 23, 23, 24 and 21 predicted for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The mini heat wave will be caused by warm air moving northwards from southern Europe.

A Met Office spokesman said: “As well as warm days in many areas, night-time temperatures could also be above average, giving us some warm, muggy nights potentially making it difficult to sleep.”

The highest temperature recorded in the UK so far this year is 25.8C at Gravesend and Faversham on May 16. This was the highest temperature since 34.4C was reached on September 13 last year in Gravesend, marking the peak of a warm spell mid-September 2016.

The UK May temperature record is 32.8C, recorded on May 22, 1922 in Camden Square, London and May 29, 1944 in Horsham, Tunbridge Wells and Regent's Park.