AN extreme weather warning has been issued for the Cotswolds, despite forecasts of soaring temperatures.

Britain is in the throes of a heatwave. Yesterday the country was given its hottest day of the year so far, a title which will be taken away by glorious sunshine on Saturday.

But despite highs of 23C, a yellow weather warning for rain has been put in force across the Cotswolds, Wales and much of the West from 6am to 11pm.

According to Chesterton-based weather station glosweather.com, Sunday could be even hotter, with temperatures set to peak at 25C.

The Met Office chief forecaster said: “Scattered showers or outbreaks of rain are expected to run northwards across Wales and western parts of England from Saturday morning onwards.

"There will also be some brighter spells and hazy sunshine and it is possible that some places here may escape the showers or rain and remain dry.

“Uncertainty in the development of these showers and rain is higher than average and some areas may see only small amounts of rain.

"Showers within this warning area are not expected to be as intense as those that may develop in the other warning area further east on Saturday covering parts of the Midlands and southern Pennines.”