Hotel with a beach ... in London

With Britain looking forward to a heatwave, London is following Paris by setting up the seaside in the city.

Inspired by the man-made beach by the Seine in Paris, one ambitious hotel has turned its lobby into a sandy shore.

Throughout August, visitors to the Great Eastern Hotel, by Liverpool Street station, can enjoy sandcastles and kiss-me-quick hats, when the hotel's six-storey atrium is turned into a beach with sand, palm trees, deck chairs and a beach bar - and not a mosquito or timeshare salesman in sight.

The beach and bar will be open to the public throughout the week and could provide some cool respite from the heatwave descending on Britain.

Forecasters are predicting hot weather for the next few days. Yesterday reached 30°C (86°F) after weeks of grey skies and cold temperatures. Over the next week temperatures will reach the high 20s. London will be even hotter with the mercury rising into the low 30s.

A Met Office spokesman said: 'It will feel like a true heatwave.'

After cooler than normal temperatures for most of July, a shift in wind patterns has dragged hot air from continental Europe. Weather experts said they were confident the heatwave would last into early next week, but after then the picture is less clear.

The hot weather will delight sun worshippers but could cause misery for motorists who risk being caught in traffic jams as people head to the coast or into the countryside.