WEATHERMEN are warning of 'unseasonably windy weather' set to batter the North-East and North Yorkshire in the next 48 hours.

A Met Office spokesman said this afternoon: "An unseasonably windy spell is likely across many parts of the UK later on Monday, overnight and well into Tuesday, as active frontal systems sweep across the UK."

An initial swathe of southerly gales will move east across many parts late on Monday evening, producing gusts to 50 mph widely but 60-65 mph across exposed coastal areas.

Winds will become west or southwesterly on Tuesday, with further gales in places, before gradually easing later.

Heavy rain will accompany the strong winds at times.

The spokesman added: "Damage to some trees seems likely, given that they are in full leaf. There remains uncertainty in the areas likely to be worst affected and this warning will be updated on Monday in the light of new information."

Welcome to summer.

If you survive the wind-borne battering, however, things are set fair later in the week when temperatures should soar.

Bookies have slashed the odds on Britain enjoying the hottest June on record as forecasters say a heatwave will send temperatures through the roof.

Rain and gales will be replaced by blazing sunshine with the mercury expected to hit 28C (82F) this weekend, rivalling resorts in the Mediterranean.

Bookmakers Coral say that with the fine weather expected to last all month "we think it could be the hottest in British history".

Coral has cut the odds on Britain having the hottest June since records began in 1910 to 3-1 from 5-1 amid predictions a heatwave will sweep the nation.

And they have given odds of 10-1 that the UK mainland temperature exceeds 100F (37.8C) while it's 12-1 that the UK record temperature high of 38.5C (101.3F) is broken.

And there is good news for tennis fans as Coral is giving odds of 6-1 that Wimbledon will be entirely rain-free this year.

Ladbrokes has also slashed odds of June being the hottest on record from 20-1 to 6-1, while they have cut the odds for it being the hottest summer on record from 2-1 to 6-4.

Nicola McGeady, from Coral, said: "After a disappointing May, the odds suggest that summer is finally arriving. With sizzling temperatures expected to last throughout June, we think it could be the hottest in British history."

Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: "When it comes to June being an absolute scorcher, all bets are off. Temperatures of 30C (86F) or even more look well within reach as we look set to sizzle all month long."

As it stands the hottest June on record was in 1976, when the mercury soared to 35.6 (96F) in Southampton.

The 1976 heatwave went down in history as one of the driest, sunniest and warmest summers on record, plunging the country into a severe drought.

A hosepipe ban was imposed as emergency measures to conserve water were introduced - while a bumper sticker telling people to "Save Water, Bath With A Friend" did the rounds.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: "It is a real contrast in weather from the early part to the end of the week.

"Tomorrow and Tuesday will be cool and often wet and windy. But then the high pressure starts to build across the UK and it certainly becomes very warm and locally hot in the South.

"Wednesday is the transition day from the unsettled to the better weather with temperatures reaching around 20C (68F) in the South.

"Friday into the weekend will see a much bigger increase with strong sunshine. Certainly it is good weather for getting out and about.

"May so far has been cool and the temperatures below average, so it is quite a contrast - a big change in the coming week."