London: The UK has had one of its hottest days on record, with a high of 38.1C (100.6F) – and forecasters are warning it will be warmer in the next few days.

The high was recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Monday, while 37C was exceeded in several places.

The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning for Monday and Tuesday in much of England, with temperatures of up to 41C forecast.

The current highest temperature in the UK is 38.7C, in Cambridge in July 2019. A high of 38.5C was reached in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003, making Monday the third hottest day on record – and the hottest day of the year so far. Hawarden in Flintshire hit 37.1C, making it the hottest day on record for Wales according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

The temperature is forecast to remain high with overnight temperatures in the mid-20s. Tuesday could be a cooler day across the west of the UK but parts of the Midlands and east of England could see temperatures into the 40s – with a possibility of 42C in Lincolnshire, BBC Weather presenter Ben Rich said. BBC