Temperatures look set to rise over the weekend and into next week with a period of sunny weather, with weatherman Derek Brockway declaring it ‘proper summer’.

Today marks St Swithin’s Day, which is a good omen for the summer ahead.

According to the legend, if it rains on St Swithin’s Day, it will rain for 40 days, but if it is fair, 40 days of fair weather will follow.

St Swithin was bishop of Winchester from 852 to 862. At his request he was buried in the churchyard, where rain and the steps of passersby might fall on his grave.

According to legend, after his body was moved inside the cathedral on 15 July, 971, a great storm ensued.

The weather will remain sunny this evening with a maximum temperature of 25°C.

Friday will be a dry day, with plenty of sunshine developing after any early fog patches clear. Feeling very warm in the sunshine. Maximum temperature of 26°C with the weekend remaining dry with plenty of sunshine over the weekend, becoming hot by day in the south.

Staying warm into Monday as some cloud returns, and with it the odd heavy shower.

Commenting on the forecast, BBC weatherman Derek Brockway said on Twitter: “St Swithin’s Day will be dry! Patches of low cloud in the morning will clear leaving sunnier skies. Temperatures widely reaching the mid to high 20s over the weekend. The @metoffice predicts a roasty toasty 30°C in Cardiff Bute Park on Sunday and Monday. Proper summer!"