Sunseekers will soon be able to bask in warmer weather on south Essex's beaches as experts have revealed when the first heatwave of the year is set to arrive.

While the county has been hit by a period of wet and windy weather following the "mini heatwave" last weekend, with temperatures reaching 20C in places, conditions will change again within the next three weeks.

James Madden, an expert from Exacta Weather, told the Mirror the UK will finally warm up during the final weeks of this month and into early May with temperatures ranging in the mid to high 20s in parts of the nation next month - meeting the heatwave threshold.

Meanwhile, Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, says the nation could bake in its first heatwave towards the end of May.

He told the paper: "It could be May into June that we meet the heat wave threshold as there's nothing to indicate it sooner. There is some pleasant weather forecast this weekend for many, which will be a boost after unsettled weather recently."

Long-range forecasts from Accuweather show parts of south Essex are finally expected to experience temperatures into the mid 20s from the end of May.

This weekend will see patchy cloud with bright or sunny spells at times in the East of England, feeling mild by day after chilly starts.

However, isolated heavy showers are forecast to hit the county on Monday, with sunny spells and wind.