Festival Hall fountains bring relief from an all-too-short heatwave

A young girl enjoys the fountain at the Royal Festival Hall today as London basked in temperatures which were expected to reach 29C.

But forecasters warned that the barbecue weather — being brought in from the Continent — will not last. Cold Atlantic winds have already brought clouds and outbreaks of rain to parts of Britain and are due to spread across the rest of the country tonight and tomorrow.

The weather front, which originated in Canada and Greenland, means the coming days will be much cooler with occasional outbreaks of heavy rain.

Meanwhile the rest of Europe will continue to have hot weather. In Germany, the Netherlands and eastern France, temperatures of up to 99F (37C) are expected.

In Britain, Saturday will see a short burst of sunshine, with the South-East again benefiting from its proximity to Europe and enjoying temperatures of around 68F (20C).

Sunday will bring a new frontal system from the north and west and with it more rain.

Paul Knightley, a forecaster with the Meteo Group, the weather arm of the Press Association, said: "People should make the most of the sunny weather today and Saturday because it will not last very long."