After a largely disappointing spring, the bank holiday weekend is set to bring with it the warmest weather of the year so far.

Temperatures are predicted to go as high as 24C on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Met Office, with dry and sunny weather expected to last into next week.

As many residents and day-trippers will be heading to Southend seafront to enjoy the sunshine, here is how hot it will be in the city this weekend (according to the Met Office):

Saturday 

This weekend will kick off dry and cloudy early in the morning, changing to sunny by late morning.

The weather will stay fine with plenty of sunshine throughout today and light wins.

Temperatures are expected to reach 15C.

Sunday 

Sunday will be dry again with sunny intervals changing to cloudy by lunchtime.

However, it will feel hotter as temperatures are set to hit highs of 17C.

Monday

Sunseekers could be disappointed as Bank Holiday Monday looks set to be cloudy, but the Met Office says some sunshine is still likely.

Temperatures could reach 13C, however may feel like 9C.

Rain is unlikely to trouble the country over the next few days, with Met Office deputy chief forecaster Steven Keates saying indications are that the dry, bright weather is likely to continue for most – with little in the way of rain throughout next week.

Met Office chief forecaster Paul Gundersen said: “The jet stream sitting to the north of the UK is holding unsettled weather systems at bay and allowing high pressure to dominate bringing fine weather to the vast majority of the UK.

“The current position of the high-pressure means we will see a westerly air flow over the UK, a cooler direction than if air was being brought up from the south, and areas such as Spain or Africa.

“Therefore, we are not likely to reach heatwave conditions, but temperatures will still be warm reaching the low 20s for many, particularly in the South West and southern Wales.”