In pictures: Hottest May day recorded in the UK

The UK has recorded its hottest-ever May temperature as the mercury rose to 34.8C in Kew Gardens in south-west London.

Many other areas in the south-east of England also reached temperatures in the 30s.

BBC Weather said highs expected in parts of the UK on Monday and Tuesday could exceed top temperatures in Lagos, Cairo and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Met Office said the heat would be “exceptional in the UK even in mid-summer, let alone in May”.

An amber health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also remains in place warning that there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services.

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