It is set to be a weekend of varied weather conditions for south Essex residents, as temperatures begin to cool slightly.

After the hottest week of the year so far, and in the midst of a predicted 'two-week heatwave', the Met Office has predicted a more cloudy weekend.

The weather forecast for Southend on Saturday, according to the Met Office, indicates a day with sunny intervals transitioning to cloudy conditions by the evening.

The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 21C, with a minimum temperature of about 14C.

On Sunday, the forecast indicates a day starting off cloudy but changing to sunny intervals in the afternoon.

The maximum temperature will be around 21C, and the minimum will be about 15C.

The weather forecast for Basildon on Saturday, according to the Met Office, indicates sunny intervals in the morning changing to cloudy in the afternoon.

The maximum temperature is expected to be around 23C, with a minimum of 14C.

On Sunday, the forecast in Basildon indicates a day of clouds, with the odd sunny interval.

The maximum daytime temperature will be around 22C, and the minimum temperature will be around 15C.

Both days will also see very high pollen levels, which could affect those with allergies.