TODAY is the longest day of the year – and it may well also be the hottest.

In fact, experts are predicting that today's summer solstice may well turn out to be the hottest June day in Britain for 40 years.

Highs of 34C (93F) are forecast in west London today, which would make it the hottest June day since the 35.6C recorded in Southampton on June 28, 1976.

It's been a cooler and cloudier start than on recent days here in Worcester, but the sun is starting to burn through and highs of 31C are forecast for later in the day.

Worcester City Council has extended the opening hours of the Splashpad, in Gheluvelt Park, so people can make the most of the hot weather while it lasts.

A level three amber warning, one below a national emergency, remains in place for the county and for most of England because of the sweltering temperatures.

The last time the country saw a similar run of hot June weather was more than 20 years ago, from June 26 to June 30 1995.

And it was on June 30 of that year that the highest temperature since 1976 – 33.8C – was recorded right here in Worcester.

Back in the present, thousands of sun-worshippers witnessed a spectacular dawn as they gathered at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, this morning for the summer solstice.

Stonehenge is believed to have been used as an important religious site by early Britons 4,000 years ago. Pagan celebrations at the site began in the 20th century.

*Are you doing anything to celebrate the summer solstice? Let us know and send us your pictures by emailing news@worcesternews.co.uk, tweeting @WorcesterNews or on Facebook.