by Danny Boyle

Gravesend sizzled as Britain's hottest place yesterday - and the scorching weather is going to last the weekend too.

The town basked in a late summer heatwave with the mercury hitting a national high of 30.3 celsius.

Residents out enjoying the scorching temperatures could be suitably smug compared to those living in the Shetlands' Fair Isle, where a nippy high of just 14.8 celsius was recorded as the UK's lowest.

And while light rain showers are predicted for Gravesend today, with temperatures of 23 celsius, the sun is expected to come out again for the weekend - with temperatures of up to 27 celsius to match.

Gravesend has often claimed the hottest place in Britain, but was wiped from the record books in 2003.

Meteorologists recorded a record 38.5 celsius in Faversham during the August heatwave - beating Gravesend's peak of 38.1 celsius on the same day.