UK records hottest day of the year for third day in row

It has been the hottest day of the year in the UK for the third day in a row.

Temperatures reached 28.3C (83F) in Northolt, west London, on Wednesday afternoon. It beat the previous day's high of 26.1C in Cardiff on the first day of meteorological summer.

But there have been showers and even thunderstorms in some areas, with these spreading north as the day progressed.

More warm weather is expecting for many parts of the UK this week but it will then start to cool, forecasters say.

The golden laburnum arch at the National Trust's Bodnant Garden, near Tal-y-Cafn, Conwy, was bathed in sunlight on Wednesday

There was some - but not much - shade to be found at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, where this interactive sculpture by Ai Weiwei is going on long-term view

Some chose to take to the water to cool down, like these people enjoying boats on the Thames near Windsor Castle

BBC Weather forecaster Billy Payne said it was also the warmest day of the year for Scotland, with Prestwick hitting 25.6C, as well as Wales, where temperatures reached 26.5C in Hawarden.

Parts of south-west England saw cooler temperatures however, with showers and thunder in some areas.

The forecaster said Thursday would be very warm again, especially in south-east England, with temperatures around 27C.

The weather will then be slightly more unsettled but will not be a return to the cold wet weather of last month.

The average for June is usually 21C, with the earlier days of the month around 20C.

It was another day ripe for picnics, including here (above and below) in Greenwich Park, London

After a rainy few days, an umbrella was used to protect from the sun instead, here at Bournemouth beach in Dorset

After a rainy May, the good weather of recent days has come as a relief to many.

The UK has seen its fourth highest amount of rainfall on record for the month, with an average of 120mm (4.7in).

And Wales had the wettest May since records began in 1862, with 245mm (9.6in) of rainfall, topping the previous record of 184mm (7.2in) set in 1967, according to the Met Office.

It was good weather for a selfie, as this man found at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park, London

MCC members queued outside the ground ahead of day one of the first Test match at Lord's, London

Picture research by Phil Coomes