A period of warmer weather following a rainy and cloudy start to the summer has led to an unexpected increase in the volume of strawberries ready for sale, a fruit buyer said.

With temperatures rising and sunshine increasing, around 200 tonnes of surprise strawberries from growers across the country will be hitting Tesco shelves.

Kent fruit grower Mansfields said the quality of the strawberries was “very good” despite the cloudy skies and that the conditions had given the fruit more time to develop.

Lee Port, managing director of the Chartham-based growers, said: “The cold and rainy spell earlier in the year, coupled with the recent mini heatwave, has resulted in much of our forecast crop size being pushed back to late July and early August.”

“This will lead to an abundance of strawberries – about 40 to 50 tons more per week until the end of August.”

“The good news is that they are big, juicy and delicious.”

A spokesman said Tesco was buying up some of the surplus harvest as part of its work to combat food waste.

Callum Baker, berry buyer for the supermarket chain, said: “After all the rain and cloudy start to summer last week, the mini heatwave saw strawberries ripen very quickly and many growers suddenly found themselves with more than they expected.

“As good weather and temperatures around -5 degrees are forecast for the coming week, we are pleased to be able to offer this to our customers.”

According to the Met Office, dry weather with sunny spells and light winds is expected from Sunday to Tuesday. It will become warmer from the south, apart from some rain and cloud in the northwest.