WARNINGS have been issued by the Met Office ahead of 'very high' levels of pollen in the north west.

Taking to social media to announce the pollen levels, the Met Office also warned of the high UV levels in the region.

According to the office, which is the UK's national weather service provider, the pollen count will only get worse across the week.

The office highlighted that the majority of this week is categorised as having 'high' levels of pollen.

However, as we enter the weekend the level is anticipated to rise to 'very high' - spelling bad news for hay fever sufferers.

It is expected that the very high pollen levels will continue into the weekend.

Regarding hay fever, the Met Office says: "Although there is currently no cure for hay fever, most people are able to relieve their symptoms with treatment.

"The most effective way to prevent hay fever is to avoid exposure to pollen but this is almost impossible, particularly during the summer months.

"Instead, many people rely on antihistamines, which can prevent the allergic reaction from happening, and corticosteroids, which reduce any inflammation and swelling caused by the pollen allergy. Eye drops can also help.

"Over-the-counter treatments should be sufficient to ease your hay fever symptoms, but if you are experiencing more severe symptoms, you should speak to your GP."

The majority of England is being categorised as having 'very high' pollen levels across Friday (June 23) which is expected to continue into Saturday.

In terms of UV levels, Tuesday is expected to see 'moderate' levels of ultraviolet light, but this will increase to 'high' levels on Wednesday, which will continue into Thursday and Friday.

Yinka Ebo, senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK said: "It's great to have such lovely weather, and we all need some sun to keep us healthy, but it's important to stay safe when the sun is strong and take care not to burn.

"In many cases sunburn actually happens in the UK, often when people are out and about. The sun's rays can be strong enough to burn in the UK from around April to September.

"You can protect yourself and your family from sunburn by using a combination of shade, clothing and at least SPF 15 sunscreen when enjoying the sunshine."