The UK has recorded its highest temperature of the year so far - and its hottest February day since 2019.

Temperatures at Kew Gardens in London hit 18.6C on Wednesday afternoon, with thermometers in Kent and Suffolk also topping 18C.

High Beach in Essex, Northolt in London, and Neatishead in Norfolk all saw temperatures rise above 17C.

Some areas experienced higher temperatures than in Barcelona, Spain, and Malta.

The sunnier weather comes following a wet start to the year.

However, Sky News meteorologist Dr Christopher England said: "It'll turn cooler from tomorrow, although temperatures will remain above average for most, as a strengthening and increasingly westerly wind brings cloud and rain to most, although the South East looks dry until after dark."

The mild conditions have been caused by a "generally southerly flow" due to low pressure to the west and high pressure to the east, he added.

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The Met Office also said the higher temperatures "do not signal a sustained shift into genuinely settled spring weather".

Overnight frost and fog are still possible while the overall outlook "remains changeable", it added.

Recent figures from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology revealed Northern Ireland and the southwest of England had their wettest January on record.