BRITAIN's "12-day heatwave" has started and sun-seekers have flocked to the beach as temperatures hit 25C - with HOTTER weather on the way.

       The hot plume, bringing temperatures as high as 27C, is set to sweep in from Spain and the Azores bringing scorching temperatures across the UK.

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       Sun-seekers have flocked to the beaches of Bournemouth, Dorset today Credit: BNPS 7

       Punters enjoying a sunny day down the River Cam as Britain is hit with a heatwave Credit: Geoff Robinson 7

       Beaches across the coast have been packed out today as Brits bask in the 25C balmy sunshine.

       After what feels like weeks of never-ending rain and cloud, summer is back on the cards as families celebrate the final weeks of the holidays.

       In Cambridge, punters enjoyed a trip down the river in the sunshine, as people gathered in parks across London for summertime picnics.

       The Met Office's Alex Deakin said: "High pressure is bringing sunny skies and they will stick around for the rest of this week and into the weekend."

       The forecaster said that temperatures will reach into the mid-20s today, with 25C reached in some areas.

       On Wednesday, the weather is set to be dry and bright for many across the UK - with sunshine to be seen along the south of England and in Scotland.

       Southwest Scotland and the East of Northern Ireland will see highs of 27C tomorrow as the scoring summer continues, Mr Deakin said.

       Most of England except Cumbria and South West England are expected enjoy temperatures of at least 26C.

       Meanwhile, Scotland will be hotter than the Mediterranean, beating 24C Genoa, Italy.

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       The Weather Outlook forecaster Brian Gaze said: “It should be one of the best spells of summer and feel pleasantly warm.

       “There should be a good deal of sunshine.”

       Ex-BBC and Met Office forecaster John Hammond of weathertrending said: “It will be late summer at its best, with a sunnier finale to a dull August

       "The mid-20s is possible by midweek, with the fine weather holding on for the weekend and for a few more days into September for most."

       A Met Office forecaster said: “From Monday will be mainly fine and dry, with rather warm temperatures in the West initially and more widely later in the last week of August and into September.

       "There will be increasing amounts of sunshine, with high pressure likely to dominate, with settled conditions."

       This comes after The Sun reported that this summer is already one of the most miserable for a decade, statistics reveal.

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       Met Office forecaster Steven Keates said: “This summer has certainly been unremarkable and pretty bland. It’s not going to be remembered for warmth.

       “We’ve had flooding, some parts of the country have seen double their average rainfall, and temperatures have been average.”

       The Met Office said the City of London has had 117 per cent of its usual August rainfall already.

       He added that 60mm of rain fell on the capital up to August 17 compared with 51mm usually seen over the entire month.

       Northern Ireland has had 90mm of rain - 90 per cent of its 97mm average for the month.

       East Anglia and north-east England have been the driest areas, having only had 43 per cent of their average August rainfall so far at 24mm and 30mm respectively.

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       Beaches were packed out today as Brits enjoy the heatwave Credit: BNPS 7

       Sun-seekers have finally been able to enjoy the summer in England Credit: BNPS 7

       Punters enjoying the balmy weather today Credit: Geoff Robinson 7

       Crowds sunbathing in Crown Park on the banks of Derwentwater in the Lake District Credit: PA

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