Khari the lion - who has joined Whipsnade from Blackpool Zoo while their Big Cat House is being renovated - enjoys an ever-popular blood-filled ice blockImage caption: Khari the lion - who has joined Whipsnade from Blackpool Zoo while their Big Cat House is being renovated - enjoys an ever-popular blood-filled ice block
Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has confirmed that none of its sections are closed today as all of its animals have
access to shaded areas, water and indoor space.
The only impact on visitors is that it has temporarily
suspended its Birds of the World demonstration on Monday and Tuesday and it has brought forward its last entry time to 15:00 instead of 17:00 on both days.
Meanwhile it is cooling its animals down using various methods.
ZSL Whipsnade ZooCopyright: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Greater one-horned Indian rhino, Zhiwa, cools down in some water sprayed by her keepersImage caption: Greater one-horned Indian rhino, Zhiwa, cools down in some water sprayed by her keepers
ZSL Whipsnade ZooCopyright: ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
A black-footed penguin has a cool dip in its lakeImage caption: A black-footed penguin has a cool dip in its lake
'They would be working in excess of 50C'
Sam Read/BBCCopyright: Sam Read/BBC
Lucy Jones bakery says they have made the "very tough" decision to close on Monday and Tuesday.
The shop in Potton in Bedfordshire has a lot of equipment - fryers, grills, ovens, panini machines - and about eight fridges which all kick out heat, plus as a listed building it does not have air conditioning.
Sam Read/BBCCopyright: Sam Read/BBC
Co-owner Kate Gosnold says: "It always makes the shop probably about 5-10 degrees hotter inside than it is outside, so with temperatures of 40C (104F) they would be working in excess of 50C (122F)," she says.
"The only ventilation we have is through the front door.
"We are a small business, we need to be open, we don't like to let people down because we have pre-orders and customers that come in every single day so we like to be consistent, but there comes a point where the safety of the staff and the safety of the produce has to take priority."
'We're making sure we keep workers safe'
While many people are in air conditioned offices, many others have no choice but to do their job outside.
The farm associated with Bury Lane Farm Shop in Melbourn, near Cambridge, grows flowers, fruit and vegetables and is changing its working hours to make sure its workers are never exposed to heat that is unsafe.
There are only two workers on the farm near Royston today - there are usually more - who worked from about 05:00 until 11:00 - when the temperature reached 30C (86F) instead of the usual 07:00 to 17:00.
Sam Read/BBCCopyright: Sam Read/BBC
Agapanthus is also known as Lily of the Nile, or the African lilyImage caption: Agapanthus is also known as Lily of the Nile, or the African lily
Managing director Will Clayton (pictured below) says they are right in the middle of harvesting agapanthus, which are destined for UK supermarkets.
"We have to pick the crop at a certain stage so that it's at the right stage when it gets into the shops," he says.
"The flowers don't know that it's hot and they should stop growing so that we can stop working, so we still have to harvest the flowers and it's about making sure we keep the workers safe.
"If you choose to come and work on a farm then you actually quite like working outdoors and that involves a variety of weathers, so often our workers are really, really happy to have the change in hours and to still be working."
Sam Read/BBCCopyright: Sam Read/BBC
Top tips to stay cool in a heatwave (in 60 seconds)
Video content
Video caption: Heatwave: Top tips to stay cool in 60 secondsHeatwave: Top tips to stay cool in 60 seconds
Staying indoors during the hottest part of the day is one way to avoid the health risks during a heatwave but it can be uncomfortable.
From buckets of ice to freezing your socks, BBC Look East reporter Helen Mulroy has compiled 60 seconds of top tips on how to stay cool at home.
How can you keep animals cool?
Tom Percival/BBCCopyright: Tom Percival/BBC
Staff at West Lodge Farm Park in Desborough, Northamptonshire, have been planning for the high temperatures since last week.
Animals at the farm include pigs, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Farm manager Ryan Thompson says: "Pigs are a particular worry in the heat as they don't sweat and they can get sunburnt, so we have to make mud wallows for them to cool down."
Tom Percival/BBCCopyright: Tom Percival/BBC
Mr Thompson says smaller animals can also find it difficult to regulate their temperatures.
Staff have prepared cold water bottles filled with ice which will be placed in pens for the rabbits and guinea pigs.
There is also a "big concrete floor which is cool for them to lie on".
Last week staff at the farm began moving sheep to an area near woodland in order for them to access shade.
Mr Thompson says, like humans, those animals that are older and younger are the most vulnerable, so extra care will be provided to those animals on the farm.
The farm has also brought its opening and closing times forward to allow visitors to still "enjoy the great outdoors but at a more sensible temperature".
"As it gets warmer we will close and send staff home," says Mr Thompson.
Sunshine 'lovely for us' and for ripening the fruit
Phoebe LucasCopyright: Phoebe Lucas
Brendan Read of Mike, Debs and SonsImage caption: Brendan Read of Mike, Debs and Sons
Brendan Read is selling fruit and veg at the Norwich Market.
The 31-year-old has worked at his dad's stall
since he was 12. He says "we love the warm
weather as people come out earlier".
The stall opens at 7:30 and they pack up about 16:00 which Brendan loves as "we still get an evening in the sun".
He says they have less stock on hotter days because of the
shorter shelf life but business still thrives.
He adds "the sunshine is lovely for us" and is great for berries and nectarines as they're at their
ripest.
Spring and summer are his favourite seasons at work and he thinks the best way to deal with the heat is to "just take your time and relax".
Where can you keep cool?
Churches are opening their doors and welcoming people in, as a place not just of worship, but respite from the heat.
All Saints' in Milton, near Cambridge, is one that is inviting people "who need somewhere cool to sit during the heatwave", during what is expected to be the hottest part of the day.
The drinking water machine at Ipswich station has picked a good day to break down.
A sign on it from the station management says an engineer is awaiting replacement parts so it's hoped it will be up and running again soon.
Meanwhile - it's probably best to take your own?!
Greater Anglia's website did say water fountains with free cold water would be available at 13 of its bigger stations, and at London Liverpool Street.
Market trader keeps 'ploughing on' with the fry-ups
Phoebe LucasCopyright: Phoebe Lucas
Debs Champion, Owner of DebsImage caption: Debs Champion, Owner of Debs
With temperatures expected to reach record highs in the coming days, Norwich Market is still serving hot breakfasts and drinks.
Debs Champion, owner of Debs cafe, says: "I would always plough through as there's always going to be somebody about at the market."
She says some market owners have closed because of the hot weather.
She adds that she tries to keep cool by wearing loose clothing, keeping hydrated and keeping the fan turned on.
She says it's difficult in a closed market where "the roofs don't open and the council don't seem to do anything about it".
She's not impressed by some schools closing - "they have enough holidays to break up their education as it is".
Our earlier post provides information about which schools across the region are closing.
Top temperature recorded in Essex
The temperature in Writtle, Essex, had reached 32.3C (90.1F) by 11:00.
This was the top temperature across the country at that time, according to BBC Weather.
Closely behind at 32.1C (89.7F) were St James' Park and Kew Gardens in London, while 32.0C (89.6F) was recorded at Wisley, Surrey, where the Royal Horticultural Society has one of its big gardens.
Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire - which features in the new series of CBBC's One, Zoo, Three - is working to keep their animals cool, comfy and relaxed.
As the park stays open to
the public,the keepers are ready with ice lollies, water
pools and hoses to keep their animals, especially the big cats refreshed.
The pride of white lions is enjoying a larger than life
blood ice lolly (yes, real blood), delivered by brothers Cameron, Tyler and Aaron, whose family own the park near Broxbourne.
Paradise Wildlife ParkCopyright: Paradise Wildlife Park
Snow leopards Jessie (pictured) and Panja, have also been enjoying blood ice lollipops, which act as "a unique and fun form of summer enrichment whilst keeping them cool", the park says.
Paradise Wildlife ParkCopyright: Paradise Wildlife Park
Meanwhile, the Amur tigers are cooling off in their private pool where visitors can enjoy watching their swimming antics in their underwater viewing area and Tim the tapir is also taking a dip.
Paradise Wildlife ParkCopyright: Paradise Wildlife Park
Paradise Wildlife ParkCopyright: Paradise Wildlife Park
Water company urges essential water use only
Affinity Water is one of many water companies urging customers to avoid all non-essential water use.
It said "urgent action" is needed in Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and north London to "conserve reservoir supplies".
The water firm says the volume of water it needed to supply has surged from 950 million litres a day to 1,100 million litres in the last few days due to the hot weather.
It adds it is "working around the clock to maintain supplies".
BBCCopyright: BBC
It said the most urgent action was needed in:
• Bishop's Stortford• Buntingford and surrounding villages• Chesham• Clandon• Epping• Harlow• Hertford• Kelvedon Hatch• Northwood• Oxheywood• Roydon and surrounding villages• South Oxhey• Stansted• Stebbing and surrounding villages• The Ongars• Theydon Bois• Ware• Woking
Disruption on railway lines across the East
Train companies have told people to avoid travelling on Monday and Tuesday due to the forecast of high temperatures.
Network
Rail has imposed speed restrictions across much of the rail network in England.
Greater Anglia says journeys
are expected to take longer and there could be cancellations at short notice.
The company adds that some services are running reduced timetables, or offering shuttle services between stations.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Other train companies servicing eastern England, such as London Northwestern, c2c, East Midlands, and Chiltern have all issued similar advice, warning of a reduced services.
People are being urged to work from home if they are able to.
Excessive heat 'could pose a danger to health' warning
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
Local authority health bosses are issuing general advice and warnings to people to "prepare for extreme heat".
"Temperatures could be excessive and could pose a danger to health," says Jyoti
Atri, Cambridgeshire
County Council’s director for public health.
"People
are asked to look out for others, especially the elderly, babies and young
children.
"Those with heart, respiratory and serious health problems are more at
risk and the heat can make these conditions worse.
"Babies and young children
are also especially at risk, particularly when they are in pushchairs or car
seats."
If you're out and about and would like your heatwave photos included on this page, you can email them tous here.
Health secretary says extra measures are in place for NHS
BBCCopyright: BBC
As the UK Health Security Agency warns that the heatwave could result in illness and death, health secretary, Steve Barclay, who visited the East of England Ambulance Trust headquarters at the weekend, is saying that extra measures are being put in place to help the NHS.
"We're putting in additional capacity, whether it's with call handlers, whether it's with paramedics on duty, whether it's extra capacity in 111 as well, and we're working with hospital trust leaders in terms of where we're able to increase bed capacity on the wards," the Conservative minister, and MP for North East Cambridgeshire, says.
Hottest places in recorded history
As mentioned earlier, Cambridge holds the record for the hottest ever recorded place in the UK, but Raunds in Northamptonshire is also in the top 10.
Temperatures in parts of the UK could hit a record 41C (106F) today but Dr Liz Thomas from the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge tells BBC Breakfast that this is really a global issue.
"We're actually seeing an increased frequency of these heatwaves in the polar regions and that's a real concern," she says.
"Because as it warms up in Antarctica, we start to see the ice melting away, and that contributes to sea levels [rising]."
She adds that while days like this "should be a wake-up call" and governments need to work on their pledges, it is also "important that as a community that people understand there are still things we can do to make a really big difference", such as cutting energy use.
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Whipsnade remains open and cools animals down
Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire has confirmed that none of its sections are closed today as all of its animals have access to shaded areas, water and indoor space.
The only impact on visitors is that it has temporarily suspended its Birds of the World demonstration on Monday and Tuesday and it has brought forward its last entry time to 15:00 instead of 17:00 on both days.
Meanwhile it is cooling its animals down using various methods.
'They would be working in excess of 50C'
Lucy Jones bakery says they have made the "very tough" decision to close on Monday and Tuesday.
The shop in Potton in Bedfordshire has a lot of equipment - fryers, grills, ovens, panini machines - and about eight fridges which all kick out heat, plus as a listed building it does not have air conditioning.
Co-owner Kate Gosnold says: "It always makes the shop probably about 5-10 degrees hotter inside than it is outside, so with temperatures of 40C (104F) they would be working in excess of 50C (122F)," she says.
"The only ventilation we have is through the front door.
"We are a small business, we need to be open, we don't like to let people down because we have pre-orders and customers that come in every single day so we like to be consistent, but there comes a point where the safety of the staff and the safety of the produce has to take priority."
'We're making sure we keep workers safe'
While many people are in air conditioned offices, many others have no choice but to do their job outside.
The farm associated with Bury Lane Farm Shop in Melbourn, near Cambridge, grows flowers, fruit and vegetables and is changing its working hours to make sure its workers are never exposed to heat that is unsafe.
There are only two workers on the farm near Royston today - there are usually more - who worked from about 05:00 until 11:00 - when the temperature reached 30C (86F) instead of the usual 07:00 to 17:00.
Managing director Will Clayton (pictured below) says they are right in the middle of harvesting agapanthus, which are destined for UK supermarkets.
"We have to pick the crop at a certain stage so that it's at the right stage when it gets into the shops," he says.
"The flowers don't know that it's hot and they should stop growing so that we can stop working, so we still have to harvest the flowers and it's about making sure we keep the workers safe.
"If you choose to come and work on a farm then you actually quite like working outdoors and that involves a variety of weathers, so often our workers are really, really happy to have the change in hours and to still be working."
Top tips to stay cool in a heatwave (in 60 seconds)
Video content
Staying indoors during the hottest part of the day is one way to avoid the health risks during a heatwave but it can be uncomfortable.
From buckets of ice to freezing your socks, BBC Look East reporter Helen Mulroy has compiled 60 seconds of top tips on how to stay cool at home.
How can you keep animals cool?
Staff at West Lodge Farm Park in Desborough, Northamptonshire, have been planning for the high temperatures since last week.
Animals at the farm include pigs, sheep, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Farm manager Ryan Thompson says: "Pigs are a particular worry in the heat as they don't sweat and they can get sunburnt, so we have to make mud wallows for them to cool down."
Mr Thompson says smaller animals can also find it difficult to regulate their temperatures.
Staff have prepared cold water bottles filled with ice which will be placed in pens for the rabbits and guinea pigs.
There is also a "big concrete floor which is cool for them to lie on".
Last week staff at the farm began moving sheep to an area near woodland in order for them to access shade.
Mr Thompson says, like humans, those animals that are older and younger are the most vulnerable, so extra care will be provided to those animals on the farm.
The farm has also brought its opening and closing times forward to allow visitors to still "enjoy the great outdoors but at a more sensible temperature".
"As it gets warmer we will close and send staff home," says Mr Thompson.
Burst water main affects thousands of homes
About 6,000 homes were left with no running water, with supply still limited in some places.
Read moreSunshine 'lovely for us' and for ripening the fruit
Brendan Read is selling fruit and veg at the Norwich Market.
The 31-year-old has worked at his dad's stall since he was 12. He says "we love the warm weather as people come out earlier".
The stall opens at 7:30 and they pack up about 16:00 which Brendan loves as "we still get an evening in the sun".
He says they have less stock on hotter days because of the shorter shelf life but business still thrives.
He adds "the sunshine is lovely for us" and is great for berries and nectarines as they're at their ripest.
Spring and summer are his favourite seasons at work and he thinks the best way to deal with the heat is to "just take your time and relax".
Where can you keep cool?
Churches are opening their doors and welcoming people in, as a place not just of worship, but respite from the heat.
All Saints' in Milton, near Cambridge, is one that is inviting people "who need somewhere cool to sit during the heatwave", during what is expected to be the hottest part of the day.
Station's drinking water machine out of action
The drinking water machine at Ipswich station has picked a good day to break down.
A sign on it from the station management says an engineer is awaiting replacement parts so it's hoped it will be up and running again soon.
Meanwhile - it's probably best to take your own?!
Greater Anglia's website did say water fountains with free cold water would be available at 13 of its bigger stations, and at London Liverpool Street.
Market trader keeps 'ploughing on' with the fry-ups
With temperatures expected to reach record highs in the coming days, Norwich Market is still serving hot breakfasts and drinks.
Debs Champion, owner of Debs cafe, says: "I would always plough through as there's always going to be somebody about at the market."
She says some market owners have closed because of the hot weather.
She adds that she tries to keep cool by wearing loose clothing, keeping hydrated and keeping the fan turned on.
She says it's difficult in a closed market where "the roofs don't open and the council don't seem to do anything about it".
She's not impressed by some schools closing - "they have enough holidays to break up their education as it is".
Our earlier post provides information about which schools across the region are closing.
Top temperature recorded in Essex
The temperature in Writtle, Essex, had reached 32.3C (90.1F) by 11:00.
This was the top temperature across the country at that time, according to BBC Weather.
Closely behind at 32.1C (89.7F) were St James' Park and Kew Gardens in London, while 32.0C (89.6F) was recorded at Wisley, Surrey, where the Royal Horticultural Society has one of its big gardens.
How do you keep cool when temperatures reach 41C?
With temperatures set to soar this week, how can the UK keep cool and carry on?
Read moreCBBC stars help keep animals cool
Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire - which features in the new series of CBBC's One, Zoo, Three - is working to keep their animals cool, comfy and relaxed.
As the park stays open to the public,the keepers are ready with ice lollies, water pools and hoses to keep their animals, especially the big cats refreshed.
The pride of white lions is enjoying a larger than life blood ice lolly (yes, real blood), delivered by brothers Cameron, Tyler and Aaron, whose family own the park near Broxbourne.
Snow leopards Jessie (pictured) and Panja, have also been enjoying blood ice lollipops, which act as "a unique and fun form of summer enrichment whilst keeping them cool", the park says.
Meanwhile, the Amur tigers are cooling off in their private pool where visitors can enjoy watching their swimming antics in their underwater viewing area and Tim the tapir is also taking a dip.
Water company urges essential water use only
Affinity Water is one of many water companies urging customers to avoid all non-essential water use.
It said "urgent action" is needed in Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and north London to "conserve reservoir supplies".
The water firm says the volume of water it needed to supply has surged from 950 million litres a day to 1,100 million litres in the last few days due to the hot weather.
It adds it is "working around the clock to maintain supplies".
It said the most urgent action was needed in:
• Bishop's Stortford• Buntingford and surrounding villages• Chesham• Clandon• Epping• Harlow• Hertford• Kelvedon Hatch• Northwood• Oxheywood• Roydon and surrounding villages• South Oxhey• Stansted• Stebbing and surrounding villages• The Ongars• Theydon Bois• Ware• Woking
Disruption on railway lines across the East
Train companies have told people to avoid travelling on Monday and Tuesday due to the forecast of high temperatures.
Network Rail has imposed speed restrictions across much of the rail network in England.
Greater Anglia says journeys are expected to take longer and there could be cancellations at short notice.
The company adds that some services are running reduced timetables, or offering shuttle services between stations.
Other train companies servicing eastern England, such as London Northwestern, c2c, East Midlands, and Chiltern have all issued similar advice, warning of a reduced services.
People are being urged to work from home if they are able to.
Excessive heat 'could pose a danger to health' warning
Local authority health bosses are issuing general advice and warnings to people to "prepare for extreme heat".
"Temperatures could be excessive and could pose a danger to health," says Jyoti Atri, Cambridgeshire County Council’s director for public health.
"People are asked to look out for others, especially the elderly, babies and young children.
"Those with heart, respiratory and serious health problems are more at risk and the heat can make these conditions worse.
"Babies and young children are also especially at risk, particularly when they are in pushchairs or car seats."
BBC Weather Watchers: Out and about
BBC Weather Watchers have been out and about in the East of England capturing views from first thing on Monday morning.
If you're out and about and would like your heatwave photos included on this page, you can email them tous here.
Health secretary says extra measures are in place for NHS
As the UK Health Security Agency warns that the heatwave could result in illness and death, health secretary, Steve Barclay, who visited the East of England Ambulance Trust headquarters at the weekend, is saying that extra measures are being put in place to help the NHS.
"We're putting in additional capacity, whether it's with call handlers, whether it's with paramedics on duty, whether it's extra capacity in 111 as well, and we're working with hospital trust leaders in terms of where we're able to increase bed capacity on the wards," the Conservative minister, and MP for North East Cambridgeshire, says.
Hottest places in recorded history
As mentioned earlier, Cambridge holds the record for the hottest ever recorded place in the UK, but Raunds in Northamptonshire is also in the top 10.
It hit 36.7C (98.06F) in 1911.
'Days like today should be a wake up call'
Temperatures in parts of the UK could hit a record 41C (106F) today but Dr Liz Thomas from the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge tells BBC Breakfast that this is really a global issue.
"We're actually seeing an increased frequency of these heatwaves in the polar regions and that's a real concern," she says.
"Because as it warms up in Antarctica, we start to see the ice melting away, and that contributes to sea levels [rising]."
She adds that while days like this "should be a wake-up call" and governments need to work on their pledges, it is also "important that as a community that people understand there are still things we can do to make a really big difference", such as cutting energy use.
You can watch BBC Breakfast on the BBC iPlayer.