Temperatures early next week are expected to be above average in the UK for the time of year, forecasters have said.

Monday could reach 17C (62.6F) in parts of the south, most likely around the Welsh Marches, which would be almost as warm as Madrid, where 18C (64.4F) is predicted.

The higher temperatures are expected to be accompanied by cloudy weather and "fairly strong" winds and rain coming in from the southwest, said the Met Office.

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Image: Greenwich Park. Pic: PA

Conditions are expected to stay mild for a few more days after that, before dropping back on Thursday.

And looking further ahead, after a wet and windy first half of the month, weather patterns look like settling, with dry periods set to become more common, near average temperature

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