Temperatures across the UK have continued to soar as Britain basked in yet another day of glorious sunshine.
In London forecasters said temperatures hit 28C - making it almost certainly the hottest day of the year.
Five more days of unbroken sunshine are expected to follow across large swatches of southern England.
Forecasters said to expect temperatures to stay well above 25C through the weekend.
Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers told the Daily Mail "it is bikini and ice cream weather for almost the whole country" on Thursday.
An area of high pressure from the continent has replaced the stormy weather which had battered the UK with wind and rain over throughout April and May.
In some areas of the East Midlands Network Rail had to impose speed restrictions because of heat affecting the track.
Supermarkets said they expected a run of barbecue supplies, alcohol - and up to five million sausages.
Average maximum temperatures for England in May are 14-17C, while Scotland would normally be 13-15C.
Thousands of people flocked to beaches and parks to bask in the warm weather, as conditions were hotter than many popular European destinations.