Thursday is set to be the hottest day of the year, with highs of 34C expected in some parts of the country.

It means Brits are set to soak up the sunshine, as the 'Monster from Morocco' heatwave sizzles.

We're also expected to experience much of the same on Friday too, with similar temperature predictions.

Yesterday, Monday, July 23, was the hottest day of the year so far, with the Met Office recording 33.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk.

However, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and north-west England saw cooler temperatures, and even some showers.

The heat is set to peak towards the end of the week, and will continue into the weekend.

A three-level, amber alert has been put in place for parts of the east and south-east of England.

Meanwhile, Public Health England is advising people to shelter from the sun in peak hours, which are typically between 10am-3pm.

The dry spell has led to a hosepipe ban in the north west, which will "safeguard essential supplies".

United Utilities' temporary ban will start on August 5, affecting seven million people.

Other water firms in England have said they have no plans to issue a ban.

A Met Office spokesman said: "It's the driest first half of the summer since 1961.

"For the UK as a whole, we've only seen about 20 per cent of the rainfall we'd normally expect throughout the whole summer. Parts of southern England have seen only 6 per cent."

What is a hosepipe ban and what are the rules?

A hosepipe ban means the people are restricted from using the watering tool to tend to their gardens, wash their cars (or private boats), or to fill or maintain a paddling pool, swimming pool, pond or fountain.

Should someone ignore the restrictions of the ban they could face a fine of up to £1, 000 and end up in court.

Water-saving tips for the home and garden

Southern Water has issued some tips on how people can save water in their home and garden.

The home:

  • Place a jug of water in the fridge for a supply of chilled water, rather than running the tap until it runs cold.
  • Wash vegetables in a bowl, not under a running tap. Soaking vegetables makes them easier to peel but a running kitchen tap wastes more than nine litres of water a minute.
  • By not overfilling the kettle you can cut its energy use by a third.
  • Washing machines and dishwashers - make it a full load when you use your washing machine or dishwasher. Miss just one wash a week and you’ll save more than 5,000 litres a year. New dishwashers use less water than washing by hand.
  • Use a bucket and sponge to wash the car, not a water-wasting hose.
  • A bath uses around 80 litres of water whereas showers use an average of 35 litres. Swapping a daily bath for a shower could save nearly £50 a year.
  • Some showers use more water than others – electric showers are already efficient and power showers use lots of water. Choose a water efficient shower head to save water and energy. Spending one minute less in the shower each day can also save £10 a year off water bills.
  • Cleaning your teeth - leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth wastes 8,000 litres of water a year.
  • Flushing the toilet accounts for 30% of the water we use. Install a save-a-flush bag and you’ll save one litre of water each time.

The garden:

  • Plants prefer rainwater to tap water. Fit a water butt to a downpipe and collect rainwater for your garden.
  • Lawns may go brown in dry weather but quickly recover when it rains and don't need to be watered in between. Cut grass slightly longer in dry periods and less often, leaving the cuttings on to retain moisture.
  • Apply a thick layer of mulch, compost or chip bark on your soil between plants to help keep the moisture in and suppress weeds.
  • Cooled, shower or laundry water can be used on plants if it is not too greasy but avoid re-using water with strong detergents or household cleaning agents. Only use the water on plant roots, and not leaves.
  • Fit a trigger gun to your hosepipe or, best of all, use a watering can.
  • Use a water-retaining gel for pots and hanging baskets.
  • Water plants in the early morning or evening when it is cooler, and when less water is lost to evaporation. Give plants a good soaking once or twice a week in dry weather rather than light daily watering. Use a watering can and aim directly at the roots, rather than scattering water on leaves.

However, a hosepipe ban was introduced in Northern Ireland at the end of last month.