It will be another scorcher on Thursday, with inland temperatures of 40C, the met office said in a new yellow alert warning of extremely high temperatures.

The alert is valid from 11:00 am until 5.00 pm, it said, with the inland maximum temperature expected to rise to around 40C.

And in its early morning weather forecast, the met office said that Thursday will be mainly fine however from midday and early in the afternoon, there will be increased cloud at intervals, mainly in the mountains.

Temperatures will rise to 40C inland, around 36C on the south and east coasts, around 35C on the north coast and around 31C on the west coast and in the mountains.

Thursday night will be mainly fine. Temperatures will fall to 24C inland and on the coasts and around 19C in the mountains.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be mainly fine. Temperatures on Sunday are expected to edge up, remaining above average for the time of year.