With a heatwave on the way next week, residents can look forward to a slightly sunnier weekend with warmer temperatures across South Essex.

In Southend, on Saturday, expect cloudy skies that will transition to light showers by late morning. The temperature will range from a high of 21°c during the day to a low of 14°c at night.

On Sunday, it will start sunny but could become cloudy later on in the day. The maximum temperature will be around 22°c, with a minimum night-time temperature of 16°c.

In Basildon, on Saturday, the forecast predicts mostly cloudy skies with patchy rain possible in the morning, clearing up in the afternoon. The temperature will range from a low of 14°c to a high of 22°c.

On Sunday, the weather will improve with mostly sunny conditions throughout the day. Temperatures will be slightly warmer, ranging from 15°c in the morning to a high of 24°c in the afternoon.

This forecast comes as a two-week heatwave is set to finally add some vibrancy to UK summer.

The UK Health Security Agency has already issued a yellow heat health alert for the East of England, covering Essex, with experts warning of an "increased risk to vulnerable people".

Heat-health alerts have been issued since 2004 with the service designed to help healthcare professionals manage periods of extreme temperature.

The warning is in place from 8am on Monday until 5pm on Thursday.

It means there is potential for significant impacts to be observed across the health and social care sector due to the high temperatures, with those over 65 and people with health conditions being most at risk.

This comes as weather maps from WX Charts, using Met Office data, show a North African plume is set to bring a 29C heatwave to the UK next week, lasting 14 days.