Prepare for second heatwave, Londoners told as temperatures set to hit over 30C next week

LONDONERS were today told to prepare for a second heatwave in a month with temperatures tipped to reach 33C next week, as a hosepipe ban was coming into force in southern England.

- Robert Dex

The capital is expected to bask in a week-long heatwave starting on Sunday with the mercury rising into the thirties in the second part of the week, according to the Met Office.

Its chief forecaster Steve Willington said "heatwave conditions" would not see the extremes of July's record-breaking hot spell of 40C in west London but there is no end in sight for the prolonged dry weather. He said: "There is very little meaningful rain in the forecast, especially in those areas in the south of England which experienced very dry conditions last month." The dry spell has seen water companies introduce hose pipe bans.