UK heatwave: As it happened

Summary

Updates from Thursday 25 July 2019
UK has hottest July day on record, with 38.1C recorded at Cambridge
"Heat-related incidents" cause train delays and cancellations across UK
Europe is also experiencing the heatwave, with Paris reaching 40.6C
Network Rail warns of disruption where tracks are at risk of buckling
Forecasters say the heat could lead to downpours in some areas

Live Reporting

Jennifer Meierhans and Duncan Leatherdale

'Overcrowded' lido to stay shut todaypublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Image source, Emma Owens
Emma Owen has just sent us this photo from Brockwell Lido in south east London where police were called because of concerns about overcrowding.
She says: "They just made an announcement saying no way would it reopen today. They said there had been a 'serious security breach' but wouldn’t confirm that this was people climbing over."
Earlier the lido management said the venue was at full capacity but reported "500 people were trying to get in".
The lido closed its doors over security concerns.
Free ice cream for hospital staff 🍦published at 16:15 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Nick Smith
BBC News Online
A much-needed chance for hospital staff to chill out.
Free ice creams have been given out to those working at Derby Royal Hospital today.
Image source, University Hospitals of Derby
Image source, University Hospitals of Derby
Sea Life centre cools water for first timepublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Staff at the Sea Life centre in Blackpool have had to cool the water they pump into the aquarium because it's too hot for some of the sea creatures.
General manager Matthew Titherington, said: “We draw water for the displays directly from the Irish Sea, which is just across the Promenade. Sometimes we have to heat it slightly to get the right temperature, especially in winter.
“We’ve never before had to cool it. It’s really important that the water we draw is at exactly the right temperature when it enters the displays.”
Image source, SEA LIFE Blackpool
The danger of buckled railspublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Railway historian Tim Dunn has shared a video showing the dangers of buckled train tracks.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Who let the dogs out? 🐕published at 15:57 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
It's been at least 10 minutes now since we saw any dogs, sorry for the drop in service there.
To rectify, here is Barney catching some rays in a garden in Godalming, Surrey, Buzz cadging a ride in Wrexham and Daphne and Nancy having a dip in North Yorkshire to celebrate Daphne's fifth birthday.
Image source, Anthony Hobkinson
Image source, Robert Dwyer
Image source, Kathryn Linker
Let us take you for a punt on the riverpublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Pssst! Stuck melting at your desk?
Click below to come on a virtual punt on the River Cam through Cambridge with us.
It's the closest thing to actually being there!
Sorry, we're having trouble displaying this content.View original content on Facebook
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Facebook content may contain adverts.
Hooray Henrypublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Fifteen-month-old Henry is having a splashing time in Great Barr, Birmingham.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Icy treats and deckchairs for meerkats and otterspublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Allen Cook
BBC News
The animals in this wildlife park in Staffordshire have the right idea today.
Peak Wildlife Park, near Leek, has been sharing out some icy treats - as well as the odd deckchair.
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Lorraine the meerkat
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Ziggy, a black lemur, with an iced treat
Image source, Peak Wildlife Park
Image caption,
Jude, an Asian short-clawed otter, cooling down
Filey beachgoers should 'know water dangers' - Lifeguardspublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
People going to the Yorkshire coast during the current heatwave should "know the dangers of the water", the RNLI has warned.
The charity says Filey beach has been busy because of the hot weather and that beachgoers should make sure they keep themselves safe to fully enjoy the seaside.
Senior lifeguard Saphire Cartlidge (pictured) urged people to stay hydrated in the hot weather, as well as letting the lifeguards know if they're in any danger and need help.
Hot dog? Here's how to keep your pooch coolpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
One piece of advice is to freeze their food to keep them cool while they eat.
Read More
Sun great news for city beach barpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Jessica Labhart
BBC News
A beach bar in Birmingham is expecting a deluge of drinkers.
"We get very popular because I think we remind people of their holidays," says Paul, who runs the bar near the Bullring.
"We're a bit scared today to be honest because it only takes one or two drinks for people to get drunk in this heat."
This is one cool catpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Holly Parsons-Hann from Basingstoke in Hampshire sent us this picture of her Persian cat.
She said: "Little P seemed to like the fan and I was trying to make sure he was drinking enough water, so as soon as I put the water in front of the fan, he was hooked. He's been there for over four hours so far and seems very content."
Image source, Holly Parsons-Hann
Meanwhile, Edward Bartlett's cat Catface has sought shelter in a shady spot in the garden.
Image source, Edward Bartlett
Weston-super-Mare enjoys the heatwavepublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
It's looking red hot in Weston-super-Mare at the moment, with many families taking advantage of the sunny weather.
The Watkins family look like they're very much enjoying the heatwave.
Have fun!
Children's hospice brings the beach to thempublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
What do you do if you can't get to the beach? ️️
Why bring the beach to you of course!
Image source, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
That's what they have done at Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice at North Anston near Sheffield.
Hospice staff recreated a trip to the coast complete with sun, sand and sea and, perhaps most importantly, ice cream, for families unable to head to the beach.
Here are some more pictures of the fun that was had.
Image source, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
Image source, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice
Temperature hits 37.7Cpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
The temperature has now hit 37.7C at Kew Gardens in London and Writtle in Essex, meaning today is the now the second hottest on record.
The current record for the hottest day is 38.5 set in 2003.
Here are the 10 previous hottest days on record courtesy of the Met Office.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Take the tarmac testpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Dog owners are being urged to test the tarmac before taking their pets out for a stroll.
If the pavement is too hot for you to hold your hand on for seven second then it could blister a dog's paw.
Go for walks later in the day or head for a shady spot and go for a woodland stroll.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Why is Heathrow so hot?published at 15:28 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
The west London airport is often at the top of the temperature charts - but why?
Tom Edgington
BBC Reality Check
Image source, Getty Images
Heathrow has set a new July temperature record of 36.9C. The previous record, set in 2015, was also set at the west London airport.
But what causes Heathrow to regularly climb to the top of the temperature chart?
It's down to something called the urban heat island - the process where buildings absorb more sunlight than open fields.
Heathrow - with its large black asphalt runways and airport buildings - will naturally absorb more heat, pushing up the temperature by several degrees.
You can find more about this effect and other factors that affect local temperatures here.
Hot and steamypublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
The Severn Valley Railway in Shropshire has spelled it out for us.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
UK Heatwave: Do you change your plans or plough on?published at 15:21 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Have you changed things around to cope with the heat or have you ploughed on regardless?
Click here to tell us what you've got up to today.
Or send an email to england@bbc.co.uk or tweet us @BBCEngland, external.
Image source, Getty Images
Riseholm's Raccoon dog Ralph keeps cool in the heatwavepublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 25 July 2019
Lincolnshire's Riseholme College is home to all sorts of creatures and critters - most of whom are looking to keep cool today.
Perhaps the cutest, though, is Ralph the Raccoon Dog. Here he is basking in a private pool:
Image source, Riseholme Campus
Raccoon Dogs, or Tanuki as they're sometimes known, are native to East Asia - so they are used to it being on the hotter side.
Try telling Ralph that though...
Image source, Riseholme Campus