If you noticed your car looking a little dirtier than usual this morning, you have a huge dust cloud from the Saharan Desert to thank.

The huge dust cloud has been sucked more than 2,000 miles north from north-west Africa after high pressure over Scandanavia - which brought Britain warm weather over the weekend - shifted east to Russia.

The Met Office explains: "As in other parts of the world, the wind can blow strongly over deserts - whipping up dust and sand high into the sky.

"If the winds in the upper part of the atmosphere are blowing north, the dust can be carried as far as the UK.

"Once it is lifted from the ground by strong winds, clouds of dust can reach very high altitudes and be transported worldwide, covering thousands of miles.

"In order for the dust to get from up in the sky down to the ground, you need something to wash it out of the sky - rain.

"As raindrops fall, they collect particles of dust on the way down. Then when the raindrops land on something and eventually evaporate, they leave behind a layer of dust."

The sand in the atmosphere can also lead to even more spectacular sunsets, creating a hazy orange hue in the evening

Health experts have warned that the Saharan dust could pose a risk to people with asthma as it blanketed the sky.

Those with respiratory problems are urged to stay indoors and be aware that the weather situation could worsen their symptoms, such as shortness of breath and wheezing.

The sand is expected to move north over the UK in the next 36 hours.