THE North East is set to bask in the sun later this week as the UK goes through a mini-heatwave - with temperatures here hitting 24c.

The region is set to see glorious weather conditions at the end of this week following a week of thunderstorms and rain in some areas.

Forecasters have said that temperatures right across the North East and North Yorkshire will be at their best on Sunday.

It comes as nationally, the temperature will reach double-digits across the entire country at the weekend - just one day before 'Freedom Day.'

What the Met Office has said

Providing a forecast for the region as a whole, the Met Office suggests long spells of "strong sunshine."

It said: "A fine and increasingly warm spell of weather with long spells of strong sunshine. Early mist possible each morning."

Nationally, it said that there will be a good deal of dry weather with plenty of sunshine expected, but warned that weather conditions may again take a turn for the worse at the end of the month.

It said: "This period will continue to be influenced by an area of high pressure slowly moving across the UK.

"It's expected to be widely dry with plenty of sunshine developing on Sunday, however cloudy with perhaps some rain at times across the Northern Isles.

"Following this, it's likely that we'll see a good deal of dry weather with plenty of sunshine, at least at first.

"Through this period there's an increasing risk of heavy showers and thunderstorms developing from the South and West.

"Temperatures will continue to be very warm at first - before probably becoming somewhat cooler and fresher from the southwest later next week heralding a change to a more unsettled spell towards the end of July."

When the temperature will be at its peak (and where)

According to forecasters, the region will see temperatures at their warmest at around 1pm on Sunday.

Newcastle - 22c

Sunderland - 22c

South Shields - 22c

Durham - 24c

Consett - 22c

Darlington - 23c

Bishop Auckland - 24c

Middlesrough - 23c

Redcar - 22c

Hartlepool - 22c

Leyburn - 24c

Northallerton - 24c

To view the forecast where you are in more detail - click here

--

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054