SOUTH Essex is set to bask in the glory of a heatwave this weekend just days after temperatures left people shivering.

According to the Essex Weather Centre, mercury is set to tip up towards 23 degrees celsius in Basildon, 22 degrees in Benfleet, 21 degrees in Southend on Saturday and Sunday.

This will be in stark contrast to last week when heavy rainfall and blustery winds gripped the area.

Moving into the following week. showery conditions are set to hit the region before picking up again into the Bank Holiday weekend.

The conditions come aas the rest of the country is set to be hit by a two week heatwave with Met Office officials saying temperatures could reach 27 degrees celsius.

Some experts have predicted this month may become the hottest on record.

A spokesperson for the Met Office said: “It is going to turn warm over the next couple of days as high pressure settles over the UK.

“There might be a little bit of patchy cloud around but otherwise it is looking warm and sunny.”