‘SLAP on the sunscreen and take in plenty of fluids’ is the advice from the Chronicle’s own weather expert, Jonathan Powell, as Monmouthshire continues to bathe in temperatures more at home in Greece and Southern Spain.

While the jury remains out on whether the continued hot and sunny spell is a pain or a pleasure, Jonathan warns that sunburn, and even more dangerously, sunstroke are real possibilities if care is not taken.

He states, ‘Less than 20 minutes in the afternoon sunshine without sun cream is enough to give you a nasty dose of sunburn, or indeed, possibly sunstroke. Also, during the heat, there is a risk of dehydration, so the maintenance of fluid intake, especially in the elderly and very young, is crucial.’

Jonathan predicts a slight cooling off into July, but the month itself could soon return a similar scenario of lengthly hot and dry spells.