The UK is to bask in a 'mini-heatwave' this week with temperatures set to be hotter than Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Warrington is forecast to have blue skies and temperatures of 29 degrees on Friday while in Tenerife it will struggle to get over 23 degrees.

The Met Office forecast adds: "Thursday will see heavy rain at times whilst Friday will be dry with plenty of very warm sunshine."

But sadly the 'mini heatwave' isn't here to stay.

Forecasters add 'scattered thundery showers' will develop overnight before sunny spells on Saturday with temperatures only reaching 19 degrees for the rest of the weekend.

The outlook for the first week in August adds: "A brief very warm spell is likely for many areas at the end of this week with a good deal of sunshine, although increasing cloud may bring rain to the northwest.

"Scattered showers and thunderstorms will probably introduce cooler, more changeable conditions from the west next weekend.

"Through early August changeable weather is likely to continue with bands of rain, perhaps accompanied by strong winds, interspersed with brighter, showery conditions.

"However, all areas should have some dry spells, these most likely in the east, with a better chance of dry spells more generally late in the period.

"It is likely to be on the cool side for western areas, but with temperatures closer to average across the east and southeast."