GET the sun cream out and stock up the freezer with ice cream; things are set to heat up next week.

The mercury will rise to the mid-20s by the middle of the week and it could reach 30C by next weekend.

Twitter-based weather forecaster, Dorset Sun, said: “Next week Western Europe gets locked in intense heat as the settled, dry start to summer continues. Dorset has seen just 2% of its average rainfall this month, following up on an extremely dry May.

“The heat is likely to crank up as next week progresses, initially highs of 24/25c in the Bournemouth area, by Thursday we will be looking at 27c or even 28c inland.

“By the weekend, 30c is likely to be broken for the first time this year as even warmer air tries to sneak into the south coast at times.”

Looking further ahead, things continue to look warm and settled but temperatures may take a tumble during the first week of July when some rain or thunderstorms may be possible. However, the heatwave could continue into next month.

Dorset Sun warned: “Some models continue the heatwave theme into July, and some have been pointing similarities to the Summer of 1976 where we saw drought conditions.”