WORCESTER is set to bake as the heatwave arrives today.

The mercury is tipped to soar to a sizzling 28C and there is good news as the dry and warm weather is set to stick around for at least a week according to Met Office predictions.

The Met Office has tweeted: "It's a glorious start to what will be a gorgeous week of weather across the majority of the UK."

At the moment the peak temperatures forecast for the county are 28C on Tuesday, 27C on Wednesday, 28C on Thursday and 26C on Friday.

However, the heatwave brings warmer and potentially uncomfortable nights as temperatures will be 18C in the early hours.

And hayfever sufferers are being warned pollen levels are very high throughout the warm dry weather.

Malvern-based forecaster Frank Hill said in open air the temperatures are likely to reach 25C, but in the city it could get up to 28C, as the buildings will keep the heat.

Mr Hill said you can expect temperatures to reach their peaks at around 3pm to 6pm.

Mr Hill said: "Temperatures will start to drop off by the end of the week, but the high pressure will stick around, and the warm weather will carry on into next week.

"There has been little rain this month, we are down on the average.

"It is going to stay dry, which potentially could be a problem for gardeners, farmers, and the water authorities."