Why does heat make you drowsy? And other questionspublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 19 July 2022
BBC experts answer your questions, as the UK records a temperature of 40 degrees for the first time.
Read MoreSummary
Temperatures forecast to hit up to 40C (104F)
Luton Airport grounds flights due to problems with runway
Botanic Garden dismayed at prospect of breaking temperature record
Essex records UK's top temperature of morning
Zoos across the region work to keep animals cool
Field workers start earlier with shorter shifts
M1 reopens in Northants after police issue heat warning
Why does heat make you drowsy? And other questionspublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 19 July 2022
Live updates have ended for the daypublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Thanks for joining us as we've tried to provide a flavour of how the heatwave has affected the BBC East region on Monday.
We'll be running another live updates page on Tuesday. Find it via your BBC News Online county index.
Lido a splash with swimmerspublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Image source, Jacob King/PA MediaWhile punting on the Cam has taken a dip, Cambridge's Jesus Green Lido, external has been a refuge for people wanting to cool off.
Image source, Jacob King/PA MediaMore from BBC Weather Watchers across the Eastpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
As the region swelters, the BBC Weather Watchers are capturing sun-drenched views where they live.
Image caption, Nicholas took this picture in Caister-on-Sea in Norfolk at about 06:30
Image caption, Bedford was captured by "laughing boy" in the morning
Image caption, "Old Mick" took this picture at Stanningfield in Suffolk
Image caption, Ramsey St Mary's in Cambridgeshire by "alpaca lady"
Image caption, Flower pictures have been popular. Here's one from Great Brington in Northamptonshire by craigmiddleton895
Highest temperature 'dismays' record-holderpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
The highest UK temperature in Cambridge in 2019 is a "serious reminder" of climate change, an expert warns.
Read MoreMonkeys given fruit 'ice lollies' at safari parkpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Zoos and safari parks have to keep a close eye on their animals during very hot weather and have special ways of trying to keep them cool.
Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire is feeding its monkeys fruit encased in blocks of ice.
It said: "Barbary macaques are a hardy primate species that can tolerate both extremely dry and arid temperatures as well as freezing cold conditions, but they still love an ice lolly or splashing around in their pond on a hot day."
Delays at Luton Airport over 'runway defect' due to high temperaturespublished at 16:30 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
BreakingLuton Airport says there has been a "surface defect" on its runway due to the high temperatures.
Repairs are under way, but at the moment all inbound and outbound flights are delayed.
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End of twitter postHeatwave closes park attractions and eventspublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Wildlife Parks, football matches and race meetings among events affected by heatwave.
Read MorePeople shun punting on River Cam in rising temperaturespublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Jo Black
BBC News
Image caption, Campbell Murdoch from Granta Moorings says it is quieter today
At Granta Moorings in Cambridge a line of redundant punts chained together look like a floating island on the River Cam.
The team here says it is very quiet as people heed the advice to stay safe out of the sun.
On a busy weekend, this business has around 400 adults on the punting tours. On a weekday that figure is around 150, and so far today they’ve only taken about 50 people out for the gentle trip past the university colleges.
Iced water is offered to customers and umbrellas provide some much-needed shade.
In 2019, it was this city that reported the UK’s record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F).
It could be hotter today or tomorrow, much to the dismay of the Cambridge Botanic Garden, where it was recorded.
Image caption, Nichole Waller (left) and Susan Dunk (right) carried out their plans despite the temperatures
Nichole Waller and Susan Dunk are friends from near Epping Forest in Essex and booked a walking tour in Cambridge months ago.
They did think about cancelling but when they found out it was still running decided to stride ahead.
Susan says: "We did ask the question. They said they were still running it so we thought we would give it a go and see how were get on."
Nichole adds: "We’ve both got elderly parents and we’ve been advising them to stay in loads, drink water and put the fan on."
'I don't deal well with extreme weather' - market workerpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Image source, Phoebe LucasImage caption, Joe Metcalf, Norwich Market Bread Source
Back at Norwich Market, Joe Metcalfe is working at a bakery.
Bread Source opened up a stall there after lockdown.
Joe says they can get up to 300 sales on an average day and they're "getting busier and busier as the day goes on".
"I don't deal well with extreme weather," he says, adding that he feels he has some shade at the covered market.
He says Mondays aren't as busy as Fridays or Saturdays when "it would be rammed" and he's hopeful the heat won't affect business too much.
Man hit on M1 after car breaks down diespublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Five other people are treated for injuries following the crash in the middle of the night.
Read MoreHot dogs: 'Man's best friend' knows how to deal with the heatpublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
It wouldn't be an event in the UK if there weren't any pictures of dogs being part of it all!
Image source, The Bayfield familyImage caption, Oliver and Norman in Gorleston-on-Sea in Norfolk enjoying a paddle
Image source, Peter AitkenImage caption, A big yawn from border collie puppy Peggy in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in her first summer
Image source, Sarah LightImage caption, Latte enjoying a snooze in North Walsham in Norfolk
Londoners stay at home on hottest day of 2022published at 15:55 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
The number of people using the Tube and buses is down as London sees England's hottest temperature.
Read MoreGlos & Northants shorten Tuesday play due to heatpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
The first day of County Championship games at Gloucestershire and Northants are shortened as sport adapts during the UK heatwave.
Read MoreFirefighters tackle large blaze at recycling centrepublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
About 600 tonnes of waste clothing is alight, says the fire service for Essex.
Read MoreLater kick-off due to extreme weatherpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
The club says it is "vital that supporters take care of themselves to protect against the heat".
Read MoreTuesday market cancelledpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Newmarket in Suffolk will not be hosting its regular outdoor market tomorrow.
It is expected that the market, external, on Market Square, off the High Street, will run as usual on Saturday.
Train line closed due to high temperaturespublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Network Rail says closing the line is "the right thing to do to keep people safe".
Read MorePeople cancelling plans as temperatures rise and risepublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
Image source, Phoebe LucasImage caption, Michael and Jill, 76 and 75
Michael and Jill, 76 and 75, are in Norwich city centre.
They compare today's temperatures to when they were in Barcelona and say "sometimes it feels like the Mediterranean, as there is no air".
Jill says they were planning on playing golf tomorrow but decided to cancel because of the extreme heat.
They are keeping cool by drinking plenty of water, staying in the shade, and dipping in and out of air conditioned shops.
But overall they're "not coping too badly as it's only for a couple of days".
How the meerkats are keeping their coolpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 18 July 2022
It's frozen fruit smoothies and tasty chunks of apple for the meerkats at Shepreth Wildlife Park, external in Cambridgeshire.
This is just one of many ways zoos and sanctuaries are keeping their animals cool and hydrated in the searing heat.
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End of twitter postStaff are working hard to make sure the animals keep their cool, including giving the resident capybaras a hosepipe shower.
Image source, Kate Bradbrook
