Soaring summer temperatures and a scorching end to the month have given Britain its hottest June for three years, according to figures out today.

With temperatures climbing to a sweltering 30C and above, the last month was the hottest, driest and sunniest since July 2006.

Measured against the average over the period of 1971 - 2000, sunshine hours in England and Wales, was 222 hours, which is 117% of the 1971-2000 average, according to figures from climatologist Philip Eden.

The equivalent figures for Scotland were 227 hours, 129%, and for Northern Ireland 261 hours, 142%.

The average monthly maximum temperature was 1 to 2 degrees Centigrade above the average for the period 1971-2000 in all regions, while mean minimum temperature was 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above.

The average maximum temperature ranged from 22.3C at Heathrow airport to 12.9C at Fair Isle, between Orkney and Shetland, while average minimum temperature varied between 12.7C at St James's Park in London to 6C at Altnaharra in Sutherland.

The highest single temperature was recorded at Wisley in Surrey yesterday, at 31.3C - though this may be equalled today, while Kinbrace in Sutherland shivered at minus 2.7C overnight on the 6th and 7th.

The lowest daytime maximum was on the 5th when the temperature climbed no higher than 6.4°C at Copley in Co Durham, while the warmest night was last night, with a minimum of 17.7°C at Filton, Gloucestershire.

Rainfall averaged over England and Wales was 80% of the average for the period 1971-2000, 84% of the normal amount in Scotland and 95% in Northern Ireland.

Summer storms though did mean some areas suffered downpours, with 90mm of rain falling in the Exeter area on the 6th.

As we move into July things will get cooler in Northern Ireland with showers or longer spells of rain, heavy and thundery at times, but still with sunny intervals.

And the heatwave has sent sales of electrical fans soaring, according to Tesco, with customers' purchases of fans going up twenty-fold compared to last week.

The supermarket expects to sell a total of 100,000 fans before the week is out, as people across the country attempt to keep their cool at home and at work.

Martin Doherty, commercial manager at Tesco, said: "This week's sunshine has meant that demand for fans has soared, and with more hot weather on the way, we would expect other summer products to be off the shelves."

The hot weather has prompted the Government to set up a 'heatwave advice page' on its own Directgov website, with information from the Met Office, NHS and the Highways Agency, all in one place.

The information includes help and advice to the public, schools and employers.

The information can be found at www.direct.gov.uk . For weather reports for you area visit our Weather section .