Britons heading back to work after the weekend sunshine will be loosening their ties for two more sweltering days before the heatwave cools off.

The mercury is set to rocket past 30C in parts of the UK on Monday, with 33C possible in London and to the east of the capital as the working week kicks off.

And temperatures could edge a degree higher on Tuesday, potentially peaking at 34C in Essex or Norfolk, the Met Office said.

It follows a balmy weekend, with hundreds of sun-lovers flocking to beaches along the south coast and partying at Brighton’s annual Pride event.

The hottest temperature on Sunday was 30.2C recorded in Northolt, greater London.

However, not all of the UK will be gazing at clear blue skies – much of Scotland and Northern Ireland will start the week with some rain.

England and Wales are to stay generally dry and warmer, with the exception of possible thunderstorms across the south east on Tuesday.

The mercury will need to climb significantly if it is to come close to England’s current August record – 38.5C reached in Faversham, Kent, in 2003.

However, maximum temperatures are likely to dip to around the mid-20Cs mark by Wednesday.

Forecaster Dean Hall said there will be “quite a marked change to the feel of things” from the middle of the week as conditions turn “fresher and more changeable”.

It is likely to stay cooler throughout next weekend, he said, with “no real sign of any return of the heat that we have been seeing over the recent days”.

It comes amid a sweltering European heatwave, with holidaymakers in Portugal and Spain feeling the brunt of the sun.

Temperatures are being driven higher by a hot air mass moving north from Africa, bringing dust from the Sahara Desert.

British holidaymakers abroad have been warned to avoid spending time in the sun during the hottest part of the day and to make sure they stay hydrated.

Last week local records were smashed in eight areas of Portugal, while Lisbon broke a 37-year-old record with thermometers reaching 44C on Sunday.

Red health alerts for extreme heat have been issued for more than half the country, with conditions passing 46C over the weekend.

The hot, dry weather led to several Portuguese wildfires.

In Spain, heat warnings were issued for 41 of the country’s 50 provinces.

The stifling conditions played a part in the deaths of two men from heatstroke – one in Barcelona and the other in the southern Spanish region of Murcia – according to Spanish authorities.