Weather experts have predicted summer 2010 to be one of the five hottest on record, with garden and DIY retailers gearing up to make the most of seasonal sales.
Temperatures are expected to hit 38.5C in August, and summer 2010 should last a month longer than usual, continuing all the way until mid-September.

Following last year's wash-out, despite predictions for a hot summer from the Met Office, retailers could be forgiven for viewing weather forecasts with a health dose of scepticism.

However, these latest predictions come from forecasting company Positive Weather Solutions, which bases forecasts on weather patterns, long-term temperature cycles and 30 years of statistics.

The company managed to correctly forecast last summer's rain, and this year has confidently predicted a sizzling season.

PWS senior weather forecaster Jonathan Powell has said that the next three months will all be warmer than average, with fine conditions in June, good spells of sunshine in July and possible record temperatures in August. He does warn however, that some unsettled weather, including rain and thunderstorms, may also be on the way.