The 50-year record was broken this afternoon in Charlwood, Surrey, when the mercury surpassed the 35.6C set in 1976.

Highs of 38C have been forecast for Wednesday and Thursday in London by the national weather service - breaking June's highest ever recorded temperature.

The record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C was set in 1976 in Southampton

A 69-year-old benchmark falls as temperatures surge across southern England

A temperature of 36.1C at Gosport in Hampshire was recorded on Wednesday

The UK's Met Office weather service said the record-breaking June temperature had been clocked in the village of Yeovilton, after Wednesday's high was reached further east in…

A high of 40C is forecast in the southeast of England on Friday

The 36. 9C record temperature was chalked in Wattisham, Suffolk, in southeast England, the meteorologists said, breaking the previous high of 36. 7C set on Thursday.