The town of Hitchin has recorded it hottest temperature for nearly two decades during the ongoing heatwave.

Temperatures reached 36C across the town on Friday, the highest on any day in this month since 2003.

The record-breaking temperatures were boosted by hot air blowing in from the Sahara.

A 700 mile-wide mass of hot air from the Sahara Desert in Africa has prompted 40C temperatures throughout Spain – which is turn has increased mercury levels across the UK.

However, our daily weather occurs due to the interaction of strong global heating trends being driven by carbon emissions and local variability. The climate crisis has already made UK heatwaves 30 times more likely according to various studies.

"Climate change is exerting an increasing impact on the UK's climate," said Mike Kendon, author of a Met Office climate report which was published last week, adding: "Since 2002 we've seen the warmest 10 years. By contrast, to find a year in the coldest 10 we have to go back to 1963 – more than half a century ago."

The heatwave weather is expected to give way to thunderstorms early this week with the Met Office issuing warnings, but temperatures are expected to remain in the 30cs until Friday.