Day-trippers and Southend residents are set to enjoy a dry and sunny weekend as half term comes to an end.

Dry and sunny weather will continue this weekend and into next week, warming up to the mid-20s as next weekend approaches, a Met Office spokesman said.

Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, has also said temperatures will be higher next weekend, but it is not what they would define as a heatwave.

He said: “There will be plenty of dry, fine and sunny weather through the weekend in the UK with high pressure still in charge, seeing some warmer temperatures, possibly seeing [temperatures in the] low-20s especially in the west. A good weekend for the vast majority of the UK.”

So as families flock to Southend's beaches to enjoy the end of the half term, here is how hot it will be in the city this weekend.

Saturday

7am - Sunny intervals with temperatures to reach 11C

10am - Clear and sunny, 17C

1pm - Clear and sunny with temperatures to hit highs of 19C

4pm - Clear and sunny, 18C as temperatures start to go down

7pm - Still sunny with temperatures of 16C

10pm - Clear night, 14C

Sunday

7am -  Sunny day with temperatures of 12C

10am - Clear and sunny with temperatures of 15C

1pm - Clear and sunny, temperatures to hit highs of 17C

4pm - Clear and sunny, 16C as temperatures start to go down

7pm - Still sunny with temperatures of 14C

10pm - Clear night, 12C