GRAB your sunnies, unfurl your beach towel and dig your shorts out from the back of the cupboard – the Cotswolds is about to get hot.

Forecasters are predicting that a ‘Spanish plume’ of hot air pushing its way towards the UK will spark a heatwave, which could see parts of the country sweltering in 30C temperatures.

Some have said the heatwave could last six weeks.

That’s according to Piers Corbyn, forecaster for WeatherAction, who warned the rise would be accompanied by thunderstorms.

He said: “From Wednesday onwards we are now looking at a period of very warm and at times hot and dry weather with the possibility of heatwave conditions building.

“High pressure is building over northern England with winds coming from a southeasterly direction.

“This will allow for major Spanish pluming with African air heading into Spain, France and Britain."

Cirencester-based forecaster cotswoldweather.net is also expecting sunny days ahead with a wet start to the week giving way to glorious sunshine.

If the predictions are right, it will be 22C by Saturday and 24C by the following Monday.

Although temperatures were above average last month, there were just 138 hours of sun across the UK - making it the seventh dullest June since 1929.

Almost 40 per cent more rain fell than usual, with an average 101.8mm across Britain.

The highest temperature recorded in Cirencester was on June 8 when parts of the town reached a sweltering 28.6C.