YORK looks set to beat the all-time UK record for heat on Tuesday after forecasters said they now expect temperatures in the city to hit 39C - or 102.2F.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was 38.7C in Cambridge in July 2019.

However, maximum temperatures today and tomorrow are expected to be a tad lower than predicted yesterday, with 30C forecast this afternoon by BBC Weather and 35C tomorrow - rather than 31C and 36C respectively, as was forecast yesterday.

Earlier this week, forecasters predicted 33C in York on Tuesday, but the figure has gradually risen, to 34, 35, 36 and then 37 or 38C on Friday, before today's prediction of 39C.

Forecasters expect a dramatic drop in temperatures between Tuesday and Wednesday, when a maximum of only 20C is forecast, and the outlook for the rest of next week and the following week is expected to see similar temperatures, with no sign of a return of the heatwave.

A national emergency has been declared over the heatwave, which could cause illness and death even amongst fit and healthy people, and is also set to cause disruption and delays on the railways, and a risk of power cuts and loss of water and mobile phone services.