Southampton is set to be hit by a heatwave this week as searing temperature of 30 degrees are set to make the city as hot as Croatia.

Residents in Southampton will need to pack baseball caps, sun cream and beach towels this week as the south coast is set to be hit by a glorious heatwave.

Temperatures will reach a mid-week peak as Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to see highs of 30 degrees - matching forecasts for the southern European country.

The heat is set to wind down towards the end of the week.

Met office forecasts show that this weekend is still set to see sunshine - but at a much reduced temperature, at a comparatively chilly 21 degrees.

A spokesperson for the Met Office described the forecast as "variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells. Feeling very warm or hot in sunshine".

The forecast for next week:

Monday – July 29 – 27 degrees

Tuesday – July 30 - 30 degrees

Wednesday – July 31 - 29 degrees

Thursday – August 1 - 26 degrees

Friday – August 2 - 23 degrees

Saturday – August 3 - 21 degrees

Sunday – August 4 - 21 degrees