IT'S time to put on your sunglasses and switch on the fans - a heatwave is heading to York and North Yorkshire.

Temperatures are set to soar from 20 Centigrade, or 68 Fahrenheit, tomorrow to 26C on Tuesday and a sultry 28C, or 82F on Wednesday - the hottest day of the year so far.

But it will still be nowhere near as hot as London, which is expected to see temperatures rise to 30C on Tuesday and then a sizzling 33C, or 91 F, by Wednesday.

In York, the hot weather, brought on southerly winds from the Continent, may see some thundery showers develop later on Wednesday and Thursday, when temperatures are set to fall back a little to 24C.