Hottest day of year so far as temperatures soar on bank holiday weekend

Spectators at a medieval jousting competition at Leeds Castle near Maidstone, Kent, on Saturday - the day's highest temperature was recorded in the county Temperatures will continue to soar across the bank holiday weekend following the hottest day of the year so far on Saturday. A high of 30.5C was recorded at Frittenden in Kent, beating Friday's maximum temperature of 28.4C at Heathrow in London, Cranwell in Lincolnshire and Cambridge. The Met Office said it was very rare for the UK to record temperatures above 30C in May, with the last time being on 25 May 2012. The heat is forecast to intensify throughout the long weekend, reaching heatwave criteria in a number of locations. Daytime highs are forecast to reach the upper 20s Celsius in many areas, with the low 30s Celsius likely in the week ahead. Amber heat health alerts remain in effect for the Midlands, eastern and south-east England. Amber alerts mean there is a risk of a significant impact across health and social care services, with children and those aged over 65 at risk of negative health implications. The remainder of England is under yellow heat health alerts, meaning adverse weather is "likely to affect vulnerable grou