Britons set to bathe in 27C today before temperatures drop tomorrow

Posted on 06/18/2022

Teenagers go tombstoning during 33C June heatwave after man, 37, tragically drowns in park lake: Britons are set to bathe in 27C today… before temperatures plunge 15C tomorrow as storm clouds roll in TONIGHT

Police spoke to a group of lads tombstoning at Dove Stone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Oldham on Friday
At Pittville Park in Cheltenham, a 37-year-old man was pronounced dead after ‘getting into difficulty’ in lake
South East will hit 34C (93F) today while rest of England and Wales expect between 27C (81F) and 30C (86F)
Today is warmest day of 2022 for third day in a row after 29.5C (85F) yesterday and 28.2C (82.7F) Wednesday
Heatwave coming up from Spain and Portugal will make parts of the UK hotter than Jamaica and the Maldives
But people living in Northern Ireland, North West England and Scotland face cooler weather and rain today
Temperatures are set to hit 26C (79F) in the South East tomorrow, before dropping to 21C (70F) by Sunday

A group of lads were spoken to by police for tombstoning at a reservoir in Greater Manchester where they tried to cool off from the sweltering UK heatwave – just hours after a 37-year-old man died from ‘coming into difficulty’ in a Gloucestershire lake.

The teenagers were jumping off the rocks at Dove Stone Reservoir in Saddleworth, Oldham, on Friday afternoon, which reached 28C (82.4F) by midday.

Officers spoke to the group, likely urging them to exercise caution when jumping into the body of water from the rocky edges.

This comes after a 37-year-old man sadly died after ‘getting into difficulty’ in a lake in Gloucestershire, in what is thought to be the first death of the UK’s heatwave this week.

Emergency services were called to Pittville Park in Cheltenham at 5.47pm on Thursday evening. Despite crews’ best efforts to save the man, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not currently being treated as suspicious.

His next of kin have been informed, and Gloucestershire Constabulary said the death is not being treated as suspicious. The lake and areas of the park were cordoned off on Thursday night and police remained at the scene on Friday morning.

His death comes as experts today warned of the dangers of wild swimming as temperatures soared into the low 30s across the UK on Friday afternoon.

Britons basked in the hottest day of the year for the third day in a row on Friday with the mercury hitting 32C (90F) as sunseekers packed beaches and parks ahead of Atlantic storm warnings over the weekend.

Up to 50,000 beachgoers hit the seafront at Bournemouth which turned into a sea of umbrellas and deckchairs after people had battled through nine-mile queues to get into the resort, with car parks already full by 11am.

There were 20-minute queues for ice creams, while 3,000 deckchairs and 1,200 sunloungers were rented out and the council issued an ‘amber’ warning for the beach, saying it was ‘congested’ and sunbathers should ‘stay alert’.

The mercury got to 32.4C (90.3F) at Heathrow Airport at 2pm, two hours after a reading of 30.3C (86.5F) at the same location gave Britain its hottest day of the year so far. The top temperature increased steadily throughout the morning with London seeing 23C (73F) at 7am, 26C (79F) at 9am, 27C (81F) at 10am then 29C (84F) at 11am.

It is the third consecutive day that the UK has enjoyed its warmest day of 2022 so far, with 29.5C (85F) at Northolt in the capital yesterday, which itself beat the previous high of 28.2C (82.7F) set at Kew Gardens on Wednesday. Today is also the hottest day since 2020, with the highest maximum reached in all of 2021 being 32.2C (90F).

Meanwhile, rain and cloudy weather are expected to hit Manchester and parts of the north west of England later on Friday, while parts Hull and the surrounding areas in the north east could also experience some showers.

People in the capital were pictured eating ice creams as early as 10am; police patrolled beaches in South Wales in plain clothes in a bid to spot ‘concerning or predatory behaviour’; racegoers drank water as they waited to enter Royal Ascot; and a bus burst into flames at Streatham Hill in South London although the cause is not yet known.

Parts of the UK will be hotter than Jamaica and the Maldives today – but people in Northern Ireland, North West England and Scotland were warned to brace for cooler weather and rain. In fact, heavy rain and strong winds were so fierce north of the border that Network Rail imposed a speed restriction on the West Highland Line today.

Network Rail also warned train services in other parts of Britain could experience delays and disruption today because of the heat, which can cause overhead wires to sag and the steel rails to buckle, and advised customers to check before they travel. A spokesman said: ‘We can’t change the weather, but it can change your plans.’

In the South there is an outside chance today could be the UK’s hottest June day on record, with the current all-time high for the month at 35.6C (96.1F) – set in London on June 29, 1957, and Southampton on June 28, 1976.

There are also hopes of a glorious Saturday for many parts of the UK – with temperatures set to hit 26C (79F) in the South East tomorrow, before dropping significantly to a much cooler high of 21C (70F) by Sunday.

A group of lads were also pictured tombstoning off the rocks at Dove Stone reservoir in Saddleworth, Oldham, on Friday afternoon to cool off from the heat, which reached 28C (82.4F) by midday

Police were seen speaking to them soon afterwards, likely urging them to exercise caution when jumping into the body of water from the rocky edges

A 37-year-old man has sadly died after ‘getting into difficulty’ in a lake in Gloucestershire in what is thought to be the first death of the UK’s heatwave this week. Emergency services were called to Pittville Park in Cheltenham (pictured) at 5.47pm on Thursday evening. Despite crews’ best efforts to save the man, he was pronounced dead at the scene

Gloucestershire Constabulary said the death of the 37-year-old man is not being treated as suspicious. The lake and areas of the park were cordoned off on Thursday night and police remained at the scene on Friday morning

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

A woman enjoys sunbathing on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on Friday morning on what was the hottest day of the year

Sunseekers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as they enjoyed the scorching weather conditions

Photographs of Bournemouth beach taken at 9.34am (left) and 12.43pm (right) on Friday as people enjoyed the warm weather

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

Sunseekers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as they enjoyed the scorching weather conditions

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what was the warmest day of the year so far

Police community support officers gather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset Friday during the hot weather conditions

Festival goers enjoying the sunshine during the Isle of Wight Festival 2022 at Seaclose Park in Newport yesterday afternoon

Andrew Clarke, 40, from Basingstoke, a user experience design manager for a mobile phone company, checks on his work during his lunch hour on the beach in Southsea in Hampshire yesterday morning

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather as temperatures soar on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

Two women enjoyed the water at Warleigh Weir on the River Avon in Somerset yesterday as temperatures soar

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday afternoon on what is the warmest day of the year so far

Anna from the Serpentine Swimming Club enjoyed the start of the hottest day of the year so far in the water at Hyde Park

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday afternoon on the warmest day of the year so far

Racegoers with fans amid the hot weather pose for a photograph ahead of Royal Ascot in Berkshire yesterday morning

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

Sunseekers enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset Friday morning on a very hot day for southern England

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People sit in the shade to avoid the heat at Potters Fields Park in London yesterday afternoon

Beachgoers bring drinks to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth on Friday afternoon on the warmest day of the year so far

Beachgoers walk along the Dorset coast in Bournemouth on Friday afternoon on the warmest day of the year so far

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

Huge queues of cars wait to park at Boscombe beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, Friday morning at the beginning of a sweltering day for many across the UK

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what was the warmest day of the year so far

People sit on the sand on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning on what was the hottest day of the year

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

Zoe Nastos, 19, keeps cool with an ice cream next to the River Thames at Richmond in South West London yesterday morning

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on the beach and in the sea at Bournemouth in Dorset on Friday afternoon

People take to the water on Friday for an early morning cool down at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

Two women enjoy sunbathing at a park in London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared in the capital

Beachgoers bring drinks to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth this afternoon on the warmest day of the year so far

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

A racegoer has sun cream applied to her neck during day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire Friday morning

Felicity and Izzy from the Serpentine Swimming Club enjoyed the start of the hottest day of the year in the water at Hyde Park

Construction workers took a break in the sunshine at Trafalgar Square in London yesterday as the very hot weather continues

People sit on the sand on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning on what was the hottest day of the year

People arrived for the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire yesterday morning

People relax in the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as they enjoy the sweltering weather

Racegoers arrive for day four of Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on Friday morning

People go for a swim at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, yesterday morning ahead of a a swelteringly hot day

The Met Office said the UK is ‘still on course to see a 34C somewhere this afternoon’ – and a Level Three heat-health alert has been issued by forecasters and the UK Health Security Agency for most of the South East.

But some Twitter users were unimpressed by the alert, saying they ‘do not need the Government to tell me to drink water and put on suntan lotion’; ‘we don’t need nannying’; and ‘get away with you – it’s summer for goodness sake’.

The mercury will climb further this afternoon as a heatwave coming up from Spain and Portugal has the biggest impact in the South East, while the rest of England and Wales can expect between 27C (81F) and 30C (86F).

Chiltern Railways said a speed restriction was enforced because of ‘high track temperatures’ between Haddenham & Thame Parkway and Bicester North, meaning trains had to run at a reduced speed on the Leamington Spa line.

Lidos across London were packed early this morning as swimmers enjoyed a pre-work dip in the hot weather, while large groups of sunbathers were seen sitting on Bournemouth beach as early as 8.30am. The council in the Dorset town said that by 11.15am, all of its seafront car parks were full and the ‘surrounding roads are very busy’.

It comes as Royal Ascot relaxed its dress code for the hot weather, allowing men to remove their ties and all spectators to bring in water and soft drinks – with both moves happening for the first time in the event’s history.

The dress code was relaxed for the first time in 2017 when men were allowed to take off their jackets, while on another occasion racegoers were advised to wear boots on waterlogged ground, reported the Daily Telegraph.

Britons have already been enjoying the warmth this week as plenty spent time outdoors yesterday, although those intending to bask in the balmy temperatures again today have been warned about the ‘serious’ health risks.

Dr Vikki Thompson, climate scientist at the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute for the Environment, said: ‘Heatwaves are one of the most deadly natural hazards. In the UK, 3,000 deaths were linked to heatwaves in 2021.

‘The health issues related to heat include direct effects, such as heat stroke and cardiovascular failure, and indirect effects including poorer mental health and an increase in accidents such as car crashes and drownings.’

Healthcare staff have been told to plan for how the hot weather will affect patients, after a Level Three heat-health alert was issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for most of South East.

Increased risk of fires due to the heatwave, says LFB

Firefighters at the London Fire Brigade (LFB) are warning of an increased risk of fires due to the heatwave.

The LFB said it has already attended more than 1,430 grass and open land fires across the city this year. This includes grassland, canal and riverbank vegetation, scrubland, parks, playgrounds, crops and woodland.

Around 350 of these were in domestic gardens and the LFB said that with prolonged periods of hot weather, there is a concern these numbers will rise. In the last five years, they have attended almost 600 fires involving barbecues, 45 of which were on private balconies.

The LFB’s assistant commissioner for fire safety, Charlie Pugsley, said: ‘We want people to enjoy the glorious weather and do so safely. Barbecuing on dry grass is reckless and can easily cause a really serious fire – damaging the immediate area and risking nearby properties.

‘We’re also urging people to think twice about having barbecues on balconies. It’s easier than you might think for a balcony fire to spread to others, which could not only leave you homeless but displace hundreds of your neighbours too.

‘We’re not trying to take the fun out of the heatwave, but for the sake of our city – and of our firefighters who have to work in sweltering temperatures to tackle these blazes – we’d really like people to take our advice on board. We’re asking the public to remain vigilant and call 999 as soon as they see any signs of smouldering grass.’

Firefighters are also warning residents not to risk their safety for a cooling swim. In the last five years, crews have attended almost 300 reports of a person in water or at immediate risk of entering water. The LFB said there were nine accidental drownings in London last year, making it the joint third highest in the UK.

A Level Two heat-health alert remains in force for southern and central England, while northern England is still under Level One.

Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, told BBC Breakfast today that the Level Three alert is to help protect the NHS.

Dr Sousa added: ‘The Level 3 alert is operational and called ‘heatwave action’. It is to inform our partners that they should prepare their services for possible increases in demand due to increases in temperatures.

‘We also have a Level 2 that is currently active in the South West and East of England that is to inform our partners that they should prepare their services in case they need to enter into action in case we see an increase in temperatures.

‘Right now the situation is stable, and we expect the temperatures to drop tomorrow.’

The Met Office also predicts there could be ‘the hottest Royal Ascot on record’ in Berkshire.

And Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said: ‘One thing we are keeping an eye on is Royal Ascot. The highest maximum temperature we’ve had on a day is 32.8C, which is taken from a nearby station in Reading near Royal Ascot.’

That temperature was recorded on June 21, 2017.

He added: ‘It’s looking like it could be around 31C in Reading today, but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of it perhaps rising into 32C, and then obviously getting closer to that record, but it’s something that might be quite close to being the hottest Royal Ascot on record.’

The hot weather has been prompted in part by a natural build up of heat in the UK, thanks to clear skies and dry ground conditions. Warmer air from Europe has also been a major factor, leading to a ‘crescendo’ today.

Met Office spokesman Grahame Madge said: ‘We have got warmer air being brought up from further south in Europe where there has been a major heat incident, particularly in Iberia, so that’s leading to the sort of crescendo we will see on Friday.

‘We have got the heat building day by day. We think at the moment, although there is some uncertainty, that the weather temperatures will peak on Friday and then largely we will be in for a cooler day on Saturday.’

More than 100,000 people are expected to flock to Bournemouth this weekend to make the most of the hot weather. Tourism chiefs said about 50,000 visitors were on the seafront today with the same number expected again tomorrow.

Sunseekers gathered on Bournemouth beach yesterday morning on what is the hottest day of the year so far

Crowds were seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

Beachgoers bring drinks to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday afternoon on the warmest day of the year so far

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on Friday afternoon as temperatures soar

Robin Johnson and Gail Meaker take their horses into the sea at Highcliffe Beach near Christchurch in Dorset Friday morning

Sunseekers gather on Bournemouth beach yesterday afternoon on what is the hottest day of the year so far

Festival goers enjoying the sunshine during the Isle of Wight Festival 2022 at Seaclose Park in Newport yesterday afternoon

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

People apply suncream while sitting outside at a park in London yesterday morning to enjoy the hot weather

People relax in the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on Friday as they enjoy the sweltering weather

A family enjoy using a fan on the London Underground on Friday morning at Manor House station in North London

People make the most of the weather at a park in London on Friday morning as they enjoyed the warm conditions

People relax in the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as they enjoyed the sweltering weather

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

A visitor takes a photo of the flowers of the ‘Superbloom’ garden in the moat of the Tower of London yesterday afternoon

People make the most of the weather at a park in London yesterday morning as they enjoy the warm conditions

Racegoers arrive on day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on Friday morning

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

A group of people enjoy sunbathing at a park in London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared in the capital

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soared

Sunseekers on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as they enjoy the scorching weather conditions

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

Two young women enjoy sunbathing at a park in London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital

A sea breeze has brought the temperature in Bournemouth down to a slightly cooler 26C (79F), and the conditions are said to have attracted many tourists to the coast to cool off.

Charities warn pet owners about dangers of hot weather for animals

Charities have warned pet owners about the dangers of hot weather affecting animals.

The RSPCA is urging dog owners to be aware of the dangers of walking their pets – especially ones with thick coats and underlying health conditions – during the warmer seasons.

The Blue Cross meanwhile urged cat owners to be careful when leaving windows open after a kitten fell from three storeys and fractured her leg.

Esme Wheeler, RSPCA dog welfare specialist, said: ‘The truth is walking dogs in hot weather can be a silent killer. While the majority would never leave our dogs in a car on a hot day, or even take our dogs for a really long walk in the heat, many people may still be putting their dogs at risk even on a short walk, or taking them to places such as fields and beaches with little or no shade.

‘We have long-campaigned that dogs die in hot cars, but this year we’re highlighting that dogs die on hot walks, too. The message remains very simple – never leave a dog in a hot car because ‘not long’ is too long, and when it comes to walks, ‘if in doubt, don’t go out.”

The Blue Cross said Dory, a 16-week old kitten, was found by her owner after she fell from a window in Pimlico, central London, during a spate of hot weather on May 18. The kitten was so badly injured she had to have her leg amputated. Dory’s owner placed her in the care of the charity following the incident and the Blue Cross is now hoping to rehome her.

Some advice by the charity to cool pets down includes keeping cats indoors during the hottest points in the day, with windows open that have wire mesh or netting to prevent any injuries, and instead letting them out during the cooler parts of the day. Other tips include giving cooling pads and ice treats to dogs.

Traffic heading into the resort queued for nine miles along the A31 and A338. Beach-front car parks were full by 11am and people faced 20-minute queues to get an ice cream.

Most of the resort’s 30,000 hotel rooms are full for the weekend while 3,000 deckchairs and 1,200 sunloungers on the beach were rented out.

Debbie White, 26, from Southampton, said: ‘I have a day off work today but rather than have a lie in I was up even earlier to make sure I got a parking space. I’m glad I did because the roads were getting really busy when I arrived.

‘It feels like you are abroad. I have friends who have spent thousands of pounds to fly to Turkley this week. They could have saved themselves the money and stayed here instead. ‘

Chris Saunders, the director of tourism at Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, said: ‘We estimate that about 50,000 people have visited the seafront today. Considering we are in mid-June and not the peak holiday season that is an impressive number.

‘It is a great start to summer and our seafront services and kiosks have been coping really well and we understand that hotel abd B&B bookings are looking really good as well.’

Paul Clarke, of the Carktin Hotel, said: ‘Hot weather is exactly what hospitality businesses need. Most of us are trying to get back to where we were prior to the pandemic.

‘We know that some visitors have abandoned the idea of travelling abroad because of the problems with cancelled flights. By coming to Bournemouth they get the beach and the weather without spending time trapped in airports.’

Talking about the context of today’s hot weather, Dr Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre, said: ‘Climate change has increased the average temperature of UK summers, and it is also increasing the likelihood of experiencing more extreme temperatures.

‘Reaching 34C during June is a rare, but not unprecedented, event in the historical climate records for the UK.

‘But if it should happen this week it would be notable that it would have occurred on three days during the last six Junes’.

Aidan McGivern, Met Office meteorologist, said the heat will be ‘peaking significantly’ today, when the country will ‘see widely 30C or more, with a maximum, somewhere around London, or to the north of London, 34C’.

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London on Friday as they go for a walk near Tower Bridge

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they go for a walk on the South Bank

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they relax next to the River Thames

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they sit down near Tower Bridge

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they enjoy a drink on the South Bank

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what is the warmest day of the year so far

Two people enjoy using a fan on the London Underground yesterday morning at Manor House station in North London

Crowds are seen enjoying the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they go for a walk next to the River Thames

Festival goers enjoying the sunshine during The Isle of Wight Festival 2022 at Seaclose Park in Newport yesterday afternoon

Traffic queues are seen at Boscombe beach in Bournemouth yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar in Dorset

A group of people enjoy a drink on the South Bank in London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital

Sunseekers gather on Bournemouth beach yesterday morning on what is the hottest day of the year so far

A woman arrives on the beach at Bournemouth yesterday as sunseekers make the most of the warm weather in Dorset

People make the most of the warm weather in London yesterday as they sit down on the South Bank

A group of men sit on deckchairs on Bournemouth beach yesterday on what is the hottest day of the year

People enjoy the sunny weather at the canal in Hackney, East London, yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

A woman sunbathes on the beach at Bournemouth yesterday as Britain enjoys the hottest day of the year so far

People enjoy the sunny weather at the canal in Hackney, East London, yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar

People sit down on the grass next to the River Thames in London yesterday afternoon amid the hot weather

A group of people enjoy a drink in the Borough Market area of London Friday afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital

Two people enjoy the company of a bird while going for a walk in a park in London in the sunshine yesterday morning

A woman enjoys using a fan on the London Underground yesterday morning at Manor House station in North London

People sit on the sand at Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as the hot weather continues

A group of people enjoy a drink in the Borough Market area of London Friday afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital

People make the most of the weather at a park in London yesterday morning as they enjoy the warm conditions

A marriage proposal during Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on Friday morning

A group of people enjoy a drink in the Borough Market area of London yesterday afternoon as temperatures soar in the capital

A woman enjoys using a fan on the London Underground yesterday morning at Manor House station in North London

People enjoy a walk through a park in London yesterday as they cope with temperatures soaring above 30C

He added: ‘Much cooler for Scotland, for Northern Ireland, and for the far North of England as well, and temperatures could be lower than Thursday because of the cold front moving in from the North West.

Undercover police in shorts and swimwear at beaches to spot any ‘predatory behaviour’

Undercover police in shorts and swimwear are heading to beaches in South Wales to patrol the coastline in a bid to spot ‘concerning or predatory behaviour.’

Officers in plain clothes will work alongside colleagues in uniform in the Swansea area who can then intervene to take action if necessary as people flock to sunspots.

Detective Inspector Carl Morris, of South Wales Police, said the likelihood of an incident is ‘incredibly low’, but added: ‘This initiative is focusing on events running in Swansea as well as beach and park locations.

‘It’s been arranged in order to ensure that anyone visiting these areas in Swansea during the summer months can have an enjoyable time, without the fear of being subjected to unwanted behaviour.

‘By using specialist officers we are able to identify any concerning behaviour first hand and intervene quickly.

‘I would like to provide reassurance that the likelihood of becoming a victim of any type of unwanted behaviour, whether that be of a sexual or physical nature, is incredibly low, but that does not limit the harm done on those occasions when such crimes do take place.

‘We are taking these steps in order to provide greater reassurance to the public and to prevent incidents developing and occurring. South Wales Police is committed to making Swansea safer and this is just one way in which we are working to tackle any concerning or predatory behaviour.’

‘It’s likely to bring a substantial spell of rain [today] for western Scotland in particular, some heavy and persistent rain here, outbreaks of rain also for Northern Ireland and the rest of Scotland, and pushing into northern England.

‘(It will be) fizzling out for a time before an area of low pressure moves up from the South at the start of the weekend and engages with this significant temperature contrast between the hot South and the cooler North West.

‘And those ingredients could result in some significant thunderstorms in places close to this weather front, and certainly some significant outbreaks of rain.

‘At the moment it looks in central parts of the UK where we’ll see some heavy rain on Saturday and a significant drop in temperatures. The temperatures do decline through the weekend – a cooling trend, and also we’ll see some substantial wet weather.

‘This low [weather front] will start to increasingly affect the UK from the South West and its West and south-western shores, where we’re most likely to see the heaviest and more persistent rain during Sunday.

‘But it could extend as far as Northern Ireland, southern Scotland and northern England.’

Yesterday, highs of 26.1C (79F) were recorded in Cardiff, 21.4C (70.5F) was recorded in Edinburgh and 20.6C (69.1F) was recorded in Derrylin in Northern Ireland.

Other experts – some of whom attribute the heat to climate change – have warned people of the dangers surrounding the hot weather.

Professor Hannah Cloke, of the University of Reading, said: ‘Despite the official warnings, some people still underestimate the effects of heat and don’t change their plans to take it into account.

‘We need to consider how people react to the current warnings, and continue to improve them. A warning system that people ignore is next to useless.

‘Thousands of people already die due to excess heat in the UK, and climate change will only make heatwaves more frequent and more extreme in the future. Let’s not wait for people to die before we take heatwaves seriously.’

Meanwhile BBC football pundit Gary Lineker tweeted last night: ‘Right, I’m done with the wearisome, misinformed climate change deniers. Blocking as many as possible.’

People walk along the promenade at Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday as the hot weather continues

A woman enjoys using a fan on the London Underground yesterday morning at Manor House station in North London

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset at 8.30am yesterday ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

A woman enjoys sunbathing on Bournemouth beach in Dorset on Friday morning on what is the hottest day of the year

People relax in the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset in the Friday morning sunshine

Swimmers cool off in The Serpentine at Hyde Park in London yesterday morning before temperatures increased later on

Sunseekers gather on Bournemouth beach yesterday morning on what is the hottest day of the year so far

People go for a swim at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, yesterday morning ahead of a a swelteringly hot day

Anna from the Serpentine Swimming Club enjoyed the start of the hottest day of the year so far in the water at Hyde Park

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

People arrive for the fourth day of the Royal Ascot meeting at Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire on Friday morning

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what is the warmest day of the year so far

Racegoers arrive and enter through turnstiles during day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse yesterday morning

A woman in the sea off Bournemouth beach yesterday morning on what is the hottest day of the year so far

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what is the warmest day of the year so far

Racegoers enjoy drinks and a picnic in the car park ahead of day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse yesterday morning

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what is the warmest day of the year so far

Racegoers enjoy drinks and a picnic in the car park ahead of day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse yesterday morning

Beachgoers flock to the Dorset coast in Bournemouth yesterday morning on what is the warmest day of the year so far

A racegoer called Alex is pictured ahead of day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse yesterday morning

Tonight is expected to be a mostly dry evening with late spells of summer sunshine, although there is a chance of a few showers across northern England and Wales.

BBC football pundit Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Right, I’m done with the wearisome, misinformed climate change deniers’

Overnight will then be mainly dry but large areas of cloud cover will build and there is a chance of a few showers, mostly across southern England by dawn.

Tomorrow will then be a cooler day with more in the way of cloud cover and there will be scattered showers across southern and central England which may be locally heavy.

Cloud will break across Scotland and some spells of sunshine will develop later along with some scattered showers across western Scotland.

A racegoer looks through a form guide in the car park ahead of day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse Friday morning

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

People go for a swim at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, yesterday morning ahead of a a swelteringly hot day

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

People go for a swim at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, yesterday morning ahead of a a swelteringly hot day

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

People go for a swim at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London, yesterday morning ahead of a a swelteringly hot day

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

A police sniper on a rooftop overlooking the course during day four of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse yesterday morning

Staff member David Jimenez erects an umbrella as people go for a swim Friday at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

Swimmers make the most of a beautiful morning yesterday at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

Staff member David Jimenez erects an umbrella as people go for a swim Friday at London Fields Lido in Hackney, East London

People go into the sea off Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning on what was the hottest day of the year so far

People relax in the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset in the morning sunshine yesterday

People claim their spots on Bournemouth beach in Dorset yesterday morning ahead of the hottest temperatures of the year

Sunday will then be a mostly dry day with some bright spells, although there will be large areas of cloud and a threat of showers across southern England.

Up the creek without a paddle! Two kayaking couples park their cars on a slipway… then the tide comes in

Two kayaking couples were left red-faced after parking their cars on a slipway – only to find the tide had come in while they were on the water.

The group ignored the nearby public car park and the slipway’s ‘no parking’ sign to get as close as possible to the water’s edge in Exmouth, Devon.

However, the two couples, believed to be in their 40s, misjudged the incoming tide which left the two vehicles semi-submerged in sea water. They frantically paddled back in their canoes when they realised what was happening.

The driver of the silver Toyota Corolla estate was not so lucky opened the door to let out a torrent of seawater inside in Exmouth, Devon

The ‘flustered’ owners of the blue Peugeot 3008 got back first and, after frantically scooping the water out, were able to drive it onto dry land. But the driver of the silver Toyota Corolla estate was not so lucky.

They opened the door to let out a torrent of seawater inside – and the flooded motor had to be towed out because the engine wouldn’t turn over.

Witness Heather Smith, 43, a retail worker, said: ‘I was going for an evening paddle on the estuary with my partner and there was quite a group forming on the bank.

The flooded car had to be towed out of the water in Exmouth, Devon, because the engine wouldn’t turn over

‘As we took our paddle boards down the slipway we could see the two cars, which had been parked at the bottom of the slipway on the beach. They were both partially submerged, the silver one the lowest in the water with all its lights flashing.

‘A couple of minutes later a couple in a two-person kayak arrived looking quite flustered. They quickly got into the blue car. After a couple of attempts they managed to get the car up onto the slipway. Soon afterwards another couple arrived, also in a kayak.

‘At this point we had paddled off a little way, we heard the noise of a revving engine and turned to see the car struggle onto the slipway amid a lot of noise, churning water and an interesting burning smell.

The owners of the Peugeot car got back first and, after frantically scooping the water out, were able to drive it onto dry land in Exmouth

‘I believe the silver car was towed further up by one of the other people watching. Both couples took the whole thing with good grace, despite the whole thing they were in good spirits.

‘The owners of the silver car had to call a friend out to come and tow them home. Unfortunately, people don’t want to pay the high prices for parking, so some risk parking on the beach.

‘It’s easy to be surprised by the speed of the tide coming in around there, so if you’re out for the day on your kayak you can definitely get caught out.’

It will then be mostly dry and bright on Monday with spells of sunshine and variable amounts of cloud cover, while there will be showers across North West Scotland which may be heavy.

It comes as a new study commissioned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) revealed that 35million Britons plan to visit the UK seaside this summer, between now and September.

Showing the soaring popularity of ‘staycations’ amid chaos at airports in recent weeks which has seen flights and holidays cancelled, 85 per cent of UK adults aged 16 to 64 said they expect to visit the coat or beach this summer – up from 75 per cent last year.

And it may not just be a day trip – because 42 per cent of Britons expect to flock to Britain’s coastline three times or more over the next three months.

The RNLI, supported by HM Coastguard, are so concerned with the potential seaside numbers they have reminded visitors of their ‘Float to Live’ message – explaining what to do if we get into trouble in the water.

They urge anyone in difficulty in the water should lean back, using their arms and legs to stay afloat. They should control their breathing, then call for help or swim to safety.

Gabbi Batchelor, water safety education manager at the RNLI, said: ‘With summer arriving and a heatwave forecast, we want to remind everyone to stay safe at the coast. It is important that anyone visiting the coast understands the risks of the environment.

‘It can be very unpredictable, particularly during early summer when the risk of cold water shock significantly increases, as air temperatures warm but water temperatures remain dangerously cold.

‘If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live: lean back, using your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety. In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 for the Coastguard.’

Also today, a snowflake council was branded ‘woke’ for asking residents to put wheelie bins out earlier in the morning so refuse collectors don’t have to work in the heat.

Blaby District Council issued the advice to locals earlier this week. The Leicestershire authority requested people put out their rubbish by 6.30am today so binmen could complete their rounds before temperatures peaked.

But many responded with criticism to the move and branded town hall bosses a ‘woke joke’ with one urging: ‘Get on with your jobs.’

Another pointed out the majority of Brits would be working in the same conditions while one resident fumed: ‘Stop this pampering. They are fully grown men!’

The council had said on Wednesday that it wanted to reduce the time its bin collectors would be out in the ‘extreme heat’. It wrote: ‘It’s set to be 32C on Friday, June 17, so we’re sending out our crews at 6.30am to reduce their work in the extreme heat.

‘Please have your bins out and ready for collection by 6.30am. Thank you as always.’

One web user commented online: ’32 degrees is not an heatwave. Stop this pampering the are fully grown men.’

Another added: ‘I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous in my entire life. This country cannot cope with heat or snow. Bet they all go abroad for holidays. I’ll still be out there working to pay my bills. 12 hours.’

One person said: ‘Good job the police on the beat, traffic wardens, builders are able to cope.’

Another wrote: ‘What a joke council, get on with your jobs, woke council man up!’

A fifth put: ‘They don’t even have to carry the old metal dustbins from back gardens etc anymore. They don’t even have to wheel the wheelie bins far as the drivers block streets so they get as close to the bins as possible.’

Others were more sympathetic to the binmen with one writing: ‘Is it really much of an inconvenience to put your bin out a little bit earlier?’

Another said: ‘I put mine out the night before anyway, so not sure what the fuss is about.’

But Councillor Nigel Grundy, Blaby District Council portfolio holder for neighbourhood services and assets, said: ‘Starting collections earlier in extreme heat and asking our residents to present bins slightly earlier than usual has been quite normal in Blaby District for a number of years.

‘Our crews walk around 12 miles a day collecting bins, and starting half an hour early makes a huge difference to reduce the risks to our bin crews associated with physically demanding work in extreme heat such as heatstroke, dehydration and exhaustion.

‘Whilst the British weather means we don’t need to do this very often, our amazing residents have always been so supportive when we start collections earlier in hot weather, and typifies the great relationship residents have with their bin crews.

‘We’d like to take the opportunity to thank the many residents who have been helping top up our crew’s water supplies by giving out bottled water and thank everyone for their continued support.’

Pop-up beach bar shuts after ‘killjoy’ council’s strict rules that only allowed customers TWO alcoholic drinks

A pop-up beach bar has been forced to close, blaming a ‘killjoy’ council’s strict rules that included customers only being allowed two alcoholic drinks.

The Hawaiian-themed Beach Hut Bar and Grill was granted a temporary licence to open and operate during the busy summer season in Bournemouth, Dorset.

But the operators had to adhere to a raft of strict terms and conditions laid down by ‘nannying’ officials.

These included punters only being allowed to have drinks if they ordered food, a ban on hen and stag parties, no loud music or DJs and spot checks by council officers.

The Hawaiian-themed Beach Hut Bar and Grill was granted a temporary licence to open and operate in Bournemouth, Dorset

The operators of The Beach Hut Bar and Grill in Bournemouth had to adhere to a raft of strict terms from ‘nannying’ officials

This led to the venue turning away 70 per cent of customers who just wanted a cold beer or a cocktail while taking in the stunning beach setting.

It also triggered poor TripAdvisor reviews from customers including one who described it as a ‘bar where you can’t get a drink’. The operators decided to cut their losses and dismantled the pop-up bar and restaurant.

In a statement posted on social media, they said: ‘After weeks of trying to compromise we had no choice but to close. The rules and regulations imposed resulted in a very tough decision.

‘Not being able to accept group bookings, turning away 70 per cent of walkups who just wanted a drink and being constantly inspected made our time a real challenge both financially and emotianally as a team. We’re just so disappointed. As a small business we would rather pay the balance and cut our losses than stay and lose money.’

The Hawaiian-themed Beach Hut Bar and Grill is dismantled this week after the operators decided they would have to close

The venue ended up turning away 70 per cent of customers who just wanted a cold beer or a cocktail on the beach

Some locals hit out at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on social media.

Scott Charlton said: ‘The nanny state epitomised, it is almost like they make things so tricky intentionally. Either they don’t want us having fun, or they don’t want small businesses and entrepreneurs to do well.’

Derek McColl said: ‘I see that one of the restrictions was in order to stop excessive drinking, which they appear to have considered would be more than 2 drinks. Who did they think the customers would be, 12 year olds?’

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, portfolio holder for tourism at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said: ‘As part of our efforts to make the award-winning seafront even more vibrant, we have engaged through an open tender with several operators to run a series of new attractions on the beach.

The bar had poor TripAdvisor reviews from customers including one who described it as a ‘bar where you can’t get a drink’

Some locals hit out at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on social media following the demolition of the bar

‘Local people expressed a preference for beach restaurants, rather than beach bars, nd we have been very careful to ensure that these new venues have food as their main offer.

‘It is unfortunate the operators of the Beach Hut Bar & Grill have made the decision to cease trading. We were working with the operator to encourage them to remain on site, however we wish them all the best in wherever they should choose to do business in the future.

‘We believe this location provides a great opportunity to create a beach restaurant with a fresh new food offering, and it will continue to play an important part in the exciting offerings available across our world-class seafront.’

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