TEMPERATURES are on course to rise to the hottest of the year so far, but Britons should not pack away their jackets just yet as conditions are expected to cool again towards the weekend.

Southern parts of England are set to enjoy the best of the heat, with a sizzling 25C (77F) forecast for London tomorrow, making it hotter than parts of Italy and Greece.

Outside the southern quarter of the UK though temperatures will struggle to get above the high teens, Meteogroup said.

Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected to have the coolest weather, with highs of just 14C (57.2F) forecast, and Wales will fare only marginally better as the mercury sits around 18C (64.4).

Forecaster Laura Caldwell said: "The cooler air in the north will spread down through Thursday and it will feel generally cooler into Friday and Saturday.

"We are likely to go from highs of 25C tomorrow to around 16C (60.8F) or 17C (62.6F) on Thursday."

Temperatures in the high teens are still above average for April, which normally sees a high of 14.2C (57.6F).