Heatwave ahead? Bookies in Britain are predicting the hottest June ever

British bookies have slashed the odds on the hottest June on record as forecasters say a heatwave will send temperatures soaring.

Rain and gales will be replaced by blazing sunshine with the mercury expected to hit 28C (82F) this weekend, UK forecasters say, rivalling resorts in the Mediterranean.

Met Éireann is sitting on the fence, predicting a dry and sunny Thursday, but saying the weekend "is uncertain with a battle between warm continental air and the Atlantic westerlies."

But over the Irish sea, bookmakers Coral say that the fine weather expected to last all month.

Coral has cut the odds on Britain having the hottest June since records began in 1910 to 3-1 from 5-1 amid predictions a heatwave will sweep the nation.

And they have given odds of 10-1 that the mainland temperature exceeds 100F (37.8C) while it’s 12-1 that the UK record temperature high of 38.5C (101.3F) is broken.

Ladbrokes has also slashed odds of June being the hottest on record from 20-1 to 6-1, while they have cut the odds for it being the hottest summer on record from 2-1 to 6-4.