Prolonged spells of sunshine and dry conditions are on course to descend over large areas of the UK from Friday. Plumes of warm air are then forecast to push in from Europe on Saturday to send the mercury into the sizzling mid-twenties.

The latest maximum temperature charts show vast areas of Britain turning a shade of red as high pressure begins to build towards the end of the week.

Maps produced by Netweather show temperatures peaking at around 23C or 24C in the South East on Friday.

Western areas of England can expect highs of 22C and 21C in the North.

Isolated spells of rain are set to be confined to western parts of the British Isles in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

BBC Weather forecaster Darren Bett said: “Friday looks dry across many parts of the country, the rain mainly coming into Ireland and Northern Ireland.

“Ahead of it some brighter skies, maybe seeing those temperatures getting up to 22C or so.

“So getting closer to normal for this time of year.”

Heading into Saturday, temperatures are poised to climb further and peak at 26C in London and the South East, according to the latest maps.

However, high pressure is on course to build up over Britain once again into the early part of next week.

Mr Bett added: “That low pressure has then got to move across the UK on Sunday so we are likely to have some rain before that moves away.

“And then high pressure starts to build in through Tuesday and beyond, not really seeing a southerly breeze, so not expecting a heatwave.

“Temperatures are going to be nearer normal as it settles down from Tuesday onwards.”