DORSET could be set for the hottest day of the year so far, with forecasters predicting temperatures of 26C-27C along the south coast.

The sunshine struggled to break through the cloud on Tuesday, and the highest temperature recorded was 24C in Manchester - slightly below the high of the year which was 25C on June 6 in Lee-On-Solent, Hampshire.

But today's forecasts predicts highs of 26C for Bournemouth and Poole, with possible thunderstorms later.

Matt Dobson, a forecaster at Meteogroup, explained that hopes of record-breaking heat were dashed on Tuesday by cloud.

Speaking on Tuesday night, he said: "There were suggestions that the South East could have seen temperatures get to 25C but we've seen a lot of cloud lingering. It's knocked the temperatures on the head.

"On Wednesday we've a better chance of beating 25C. It's more likely to happen in the London area or a few locations to the south and west of London."

Mr Dobson said this would be "sensitive to how much cloud there will be".

The forecaster added that there is a "good chance it will be the hottest day of the year".

The welcome warm blast follows what the Met Office said was the coldest spring since 1962, with a mean temperature across March, April and May of 6C, 1.7C below the long-term average.