NaijaRush: Hottest July day ever recorded in England

Skegness beach on the Lincolnshire coast has been packed with families enjoying the sun

England is basking in sunshine with the hottest July day ever recorded.

The Met Office said a temperature of 36.7C (98F) had been reached at Heathrow - breaking the previous record set in 2006.
A level 3 "heatwave action" heat-health alert has been declared for all parts of England.
But in Scotland forecasters warned of thunderstorms, torrential downpours and hail stones up to 1cm in size.
Public Health England advised avoiding the sun up to 15:00 BST.
Wimbledon spectators - who have been covering their heads with umbrellas, newspapers and towels - were advised to wear hats.
The centre court roof has been closed to protect the playing surface and people from the heat.
London has been hotter than Rome and Athens, according to figures collated by the Met Office, but not hotter than Paris, which reached 39C (102F), and Madrid, which reached 37C (99F).

As hot as it gets

38.5C (101.3F)

Hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK - Faversham, Kent in August 2003

• 36.2C (97.16F) Recorded at Heathrow at 14:50 BST on Wednesday
  
• 7 degrees This much above average counts as "very hot" - 6 degrees over is just "hot"
  
• 5 days Length of time the max daily temperature must exceed average to count as a heatwave
  

Met Office

Network Rail instructed train companies to slow down at vulnerable locations where tracks could buckle because of the heat.

• Affected routes include Abellio Greater Anglia trains between London Liverpool Street and Ipswich and First Great Western services between London Paddington to Bourne End and Henley-on-Thames

• Virgin's East Coast line between Leeds and London Kings Cross is also running a reduced service

• Commuters have been advised to check their journeys before travelling and to carry water and sunscreen

Network Rail has said the heat could have been a factor in the derailment of a freight train in Lincolnshire on Tuesday.

Keeping cool in the heat

 

Marita Williams and Jon Symonds cooled down with ice creams in Birmingham  

 

Public Health England said employers should consider allowing workers to commute at less busy times

Health warnings have also been issued to young children, the elderly and those with serious illnesses who are encouraged to stay in the shade, wear loose clothing and drink plenty of water.
Vicky Barber from the British Lung Foundation Helpline said: "During hot weather, the air we breathe has lower moisture levels than usual, which can have a drying effect on our airways. As a result, people with respiratory conditions such as COPD or severe asthma may find it harder to breathe, feel more tired, or find their lungs feeling heavy or tight."
 
Wimbledon spectators have been advised to wear hats to protect themselves from the sun
Dr Angie Bone, head of extreme events at Public Health England, said: "Employers should ensure indoor areas are kept cool and consider allowing these individuals to travel to or from their place of work during cooler, or less busy times of the day.
"For those working or exercising outdoors, strenuous physical exertion during the hottest part of the day should be kept to a minimum."
Some schools have cancelled their sports days, including Castledon School in Wickford, Essex, and Christchurch Primary School in Ilford, north-east London.
People have been reminded to take care swimming in open water, after the death of a man believed to have drowned in a reservoir in Suffolk on Tuesday.
 
People in Liverpool stopped to soak up the sun beside a fountain
The heat has caused bin collections to be delayed across Bath and North Somerset because the circuit boards in the compactors of the bin lorries are overheating.
BBC Essex hired an ice cream van to give free ice cream to listeners, paid for by the station presenters and editor.
Breakfast presenter James Whale said: "It's going to be baking in Essex and our listeners are so brilliant we thought they deserved a treat."
 
BBC Essex listeners queued up for free ice cream paid for by the presenters and editor

Media caption Pumpkin the seal has learned to jump on the sun canopy and use it as a hammock

One animal at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary has been making the most of the sunshine.
Pumpkin, a grey seal, has learned to jump on the sun canopy over his pool, which he uses as a hammock as he rolls around sunbathing.
He learned the trick in May but has been doing it every day recently because of the hot weather.
 
Chester Zoo staff have been hosing the elephants with water to keep them cool   
Chimpanzees have been cooling down with ice lollies at Chester Zoo
Hot weather can be fatal for many animals, and the RSPCA has reminded people never to leave a dog alone in a car on a warm day, even with the windows left open.
The PDSA has advised that pets should always have access to shade, and hutches should not be left in direct sunlight.
 
The RSPCA said dogs should not be left alone in cars, even with the windows open