01/05/2009 05:36:00

The UK can expect a "barbecue summer" in 2009, according to long-range forecasts from the Met Office.

According to the weather experts, the average temperature across the country is likely to be warmer than average, with rainfall near or below average levels over June, July and August.

Ewen McCallum, chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: "After two disappointingly-wet summers, the signs are much more promising this year. We can expect times when temperatures will be above 30C, something we hardly saw at all last year."

Despite these predictions, there are likely to be some heavy downpours during the season. Yet, the Met Office insists that the constant rainy climate of 2008 and 2007 is unlikely to be repeated.

The news is sure to be welcome to travellers from the UK and overseas who are planning holidays in the country this summer. Recent reports have suggested that not only are more Brits holidaying at home this year due to the weak pound, but travellers from the Eurozone are also capitalising on the current exchange rates.

Reliably hot and dry weather over the summer months is likely to entice more and more people out of their homes and towards the UK's main holiday attractions, including London, the Lake District and the Edinburgh Festival, which was recently voted the number one tourist experience in the UK by Rough Guide readers.

However, government services director Rob Varley warned people not to take Met Office long-range forecast at face value. He said: "Our long-range forecasts are proving useful to a range of people, such as emergency planners and the water industry, in order to help them plan ahead.

"They are not forecasts which can be used to plan a summer holiday or inform an outdoor event."