Watford might not have long to wait before residents can return to the town’s parks and beer gardens, as experts have revealed when the first heatwave of the year is set to arrive.

While the area has suffered a period of wet and windy weather since the short-lived warmer spell last weekend, when temperatures reached 20C in places, conditions will change again within the next three weeks.

James Madden, an expert from Exacta Weather, told the Mirror the UK will finally warm up during the final weeks of this month and into early May with temperatures ranging in the mid to high 20s in parts of the nation next month - meeting the heatwave threshold.

Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, says the nation could bake in its first heatwave towards the end of May.

He told the paper: "It could be May into June that we meet the heat wave threshold as there's nothing to indicate it sooner. There is some pleasant weather forecast this weekend for many, which will be a boost after unsettled weather recently."

Long-range forecasts from Accuweather show Watford could start to enjoy temperatures consistently around 20C from mid-May.

This weekend will see patchy cloud with bright or sunny spells at times in the East of England, feeling mild by day after chilly starts.

However, heavy showers are forecast to hit Watford once again on Monday (April 22).