ESSEX could be set for an incredibly rare occurence this weekend - a Bank Holiday with wall-to-wall sunshine.

The Met Office is predicting temperatures will rise into the mid 20s on Saturday and Sunday, peaking at around 24C on Sunday in Colchester, Braintree, Halstead, Maldon and Basildon. Across the county, the weather looks set to be at its hottest on Sunday.

Coastal areas are in line for some uninterrupted sunshine, with temperatures in Southend predicted to reach 20C on Saturday and 22C on Sunday.

Things will get slightly warmer in Thurrock where it should be a sunny 21C on Saturday and 23C on Sunday.

In Clacton and Harwich, there will be highs of 18C on Saturday and 20C on Sunday.

The Met Office has predicted the warm weather will stay with us across the country over the weekend, but will turn unsettled after.

In its UK forecast, it said: "High pressure will bring mostly dry weather across the UK through the start of this period with some warm perhaps even very warm sunshine, although some showery rain is possible at times in the far north.

"The generally dry and warm spell should last through the first part of the Bank Holiday weekend.

"However, towards the end of the weekend and through the beginning of June conditions are likely to turn more unsettled.

"This will bring a greater risk of showery rain and stronger winds over many parts, with the strongest winds perhaps across the west and southwest."