A high of 28°C has officially made this the hottest beginning to a May on record, beating a 27.4°C record set in 1990.

The high was noted at a weather monitoring site in Kew Gardens, Richmond on Thursday afternoon. At a time when temperatures are still rising, and could be bested again.

This follows the highest April temperatures in Ireland on Wednesday, with Met Éireann confirming a provisional high of 25.9°C in Athenry, Co. Galway