The Met Office has warned that heavy downpours and thunderstorms could develop as temperatures begin to ease after three consecutive days in which the UK's June temperature record was broken.

The Met Office has issued a rare ‘red warning’ for temperatures which are expected to reach 39C

Temperatures have been soaring this week due to a “heat-dome” that could smash previous June records and see the mercury rise as high as 40C

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

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