A fire has broken out on a field at the Althorp Estate in Northamptonshire, Earl Spencer has said on social media.

He added that would be under control "very soon".

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was dealing with field and hedge fires around the county.

A warning has been issued by the RSPCA after it recorded a pavement temperature of 61C - enough to scorch the paws of dogs and cats, it said.

Dog welfare expert Esme Wheeler, said: “This weather is extreme and it’s a life or death situation for some people, let alone animals, who rely on us to help them survive the intense temperatures.

"We all have a duty to take every precaution possible."

Image source, RSPCA

She recommended pets are kept inside, or wherever is coolest, skipping walking dogs and riding horses, and doing everything we can to provide shade and fresh water for wildlife.

Image source, RSPCA

Mariam Issimdar
BBC News

The extreme heat has seen farmers harvesting oil seed rape, hay and barley much earlier than normal this summer.

According to a spokesman for the National Farmers' Union (NFU), these crops are being gathered at least two weeks earlier than usual.

It won't be known for a few weeks how much of an impact the "prolonged dry spell", which began in the winter, has had on yields.

Meanwhile, the NFU chairman for Suffolk told viewers of BBC Breakfast just how they had been managing to irrigate crops:

Ian Barmer
BBC Look East

Image source, Ian Barmer/BBC

I've been at the scene of two Norfolk fires, as the fire service in the county is currently dealing with 11 incidents.

A crop fire, at Castle Rising, has closed the A419, close to King's Lynn.

Image source, Ian Barmer/BBC

The wild fire leapt across the road, a hollow free was on fire and ten fire engines have been on site.

I've been told that it stared by the heat from vehicle setting fire to stubble.

Image source, Ian Barmer/BBC

Elsewhere fire crews are busy dealing with wild fires near the broadland village of Barton Turf where four appliances are on the scene.

Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBC

There's a fire in bushes and trees at Beach Road, Snettisham, field fires at Ellingham Road, Attleborough , at Heydon and on Walls Lane at Bayfield.

In total 25 fire appliances tackling fires in the open.

The fire service is urging people to be extra careful by not having barbecues in the wild and by not discarding lit cigarettes.

Image source, Matthew Parker/BBC

The message from Anglian Water is that while there are no plans at the moment to introduce hosepipe bans across the East of England - you still need to take care to conserve water supplies.

"We want people to enjoy themselves in this hot weather," says Nicola Harvey, from Anglian Water.

"Filling up the paddling pool - great - but please reuse it - use the water from the paddling pool to water the garden.

"Or wash your car with the paddling pool water.

"It's just being a bit more clever with the water you're using to see if you can spread it further so we're not using too much excess water, if possible."

There are lots more tips about how to save water on the company's website, external.

Despite the hot spell, Jason Alexander, also known for his Instagram page, rubbishwalks, external, has not been taking it easy.

He has been out in Suffolk, picking up litter.

On Tuesday morning he was on a "glass bottle patrol over Rushmere Common" in Ipswich.

He said: "This area is notorious for being one of the first areas to go up in flames in hot weather.

"More often than not these fires are caused by discarded glass bottles."

Image source, Rubbishwalks

He said he had picked up "14 bottles (11 of which were in tinder dry grass in full sunlight already) and a bag of general litter."

HIs advice, "if you find one when you are out and about don’t ignore it, pick it up and dispose of it safely and properly."

Image source, Reuters

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK - of 39.1C in Charlwood, Surrey, according to the Met Office - is certainly an important milestone but it is no surprise.

It was only a matter of time before the 38.7C record from July 2019 recorded in Cambridge was exceeded, according to the Met Office.

It says extreme temperatures like this have been made 10 times more likely by climate change.

And they will become even more common in the future.

“In a few decades this might actually be quite a cool summer,” says Prof Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.

So, adapting to cope with the new temperature realities is an urgent priority, he added.

“We need to prepare our societies. We need to educate people how to behave in heatwaves. We need to redesign our cities and our homes,” says Prof Otto.

An "understanding and accommodating" Luton Town Football club means Tuesday nights pre-season friendly at Peterborough United has been moved to Wednesday night.

Posh said due to the "high temperatures" the game will be moved back by 24 hours - and will be played at 19:45 BST on Wednesday at the Weston Homes Stadium.

All tickets purchased for the original date will be valid for the new one, it added.

Image source, The Posh

Hairdressers tell how organised customers visited at the weekend to try to "get ahead" of the heat.

A 10-year-old boy has been rescued from a river in Harrold, Bedfordshire.

The county's fire service said he was taken from The Green to hospital by the police and his family.

"Even the strongest of swimmers can get into trouble in water outdoors and we have particular concern for young people who could be putting themselves at risk without knowing the dangers" it said.

Image source, Robin Webster/Geograph

Stacey Moore, Water and Roads Area Community Safety Officer, said: "The open water may seem inviting to cool off, but there are many hidden dangers that can cause serious injuries or even death.

"If you are travelling to Bedfordshire to spend time in and around the water, please be water aware, external. It may be hot out there, but the water is still cold and can lead to cold water shock and drowning."

Officials at Luton Airport say they will continue to monitor the surface of the runway after the extreme heat led to delays and cancellations on Monday.

Engineers dealt with a "surface defect" in the runway caused by the soaring temperatures.

Flights resumed at 17:40 BST, external on Monday, with a small number of services diverted to Stansted.

The UK heatwave is expected to peak today with a possible high of 42C.

A Luton Airport spokesman said: “The airport is fully operational.

"As was the case yesterday, we will continue to monitor the runway surface closely and have a team of engineers and equipment on standby.

"Any passengers concerned about the status of their flight should contact the airline.”

Emma Baugh
BBC Look East

Refuse collectors had an early start in Peterborough, trying to get most of their work done while it was slightly cooler.

Mick Murray said the crew started two and a half hours earlier than normal, at 04:00.

"Four o'clock - it was a bit like being on holiday, but unfortunately we're not on holiday."

Kitran Eastman, managing director of Aragon Direct Services, added: "We know we're not going to be able to do it all day, which is why I want to start early and get it in the cool of the day.

"If we don't finish today we will start with the bins we haven't done first thing tomorrow morning."

Crews are called to a parade of shops in Northampton during the lunchtime sun.

Here's what the Met Office has said:

Soaring temperatures have caused railway tracks to buckle as train services were suspended across the network today.

A section of track was damaged at Watlington, Norfolk, at about 14:00 BST on Monday.

Train operator Great Northern has suspended all services out of London today because of the extreme heat.

The operator said all tickets can still be used on Wednesday, 20 July and Thursday, 21 July.

Image source, Google

Most of the network can operate when track temperatures heat up to 46C (115F) - roughly equivalent to an air temperature of around 30C (86F) - but rails have been recorded at temperatures as high as 51C (124F), Network Rail said.

Suffolk recorded the hottest rail track on record on Monday - with a temperature of 62C (144F).

One person is believed to be missing in the water in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Nigel Brown, from Clacton Pier, said three people were pulled from the water but one person was missing.

The Cambridge jury has confirmed Monday's temperature at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

At exactly 15:38 BST it was 38C (100.4F).

"We'll know the peak temperature for today when it is recorded at 10am tomorrow morning", it said.

Image source, Cam Botanic Garden

Three years ago the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was confirmed at the gardens.

The Met Office verified it reached 38.7C (101.7F) on 25 July 2019.

Although it was hotter yesterday, it seems like the hottest place in the BBC East region was actually Pitsford, in Northamptonshire at 38.2C (100.8F), beating the previous record for the county of 36.7C (98.1F) in Raunds back in 1911.

The BBC's Matt Taylor talks us through provisional figures about the UK's hottest night on record.

BBC Northampton

As most of us struggled with yesterday's heat, there was a very small and welcome bit of relief in Sudborough, Northamptonshire, when the rains came.

Sara caught the welcome release on camera, but "most of it evaporated I'm sure before it hit the ground," she said.

The hottest railway track reached was recorded by Network Rail in Suffolk.

The company said it was 62C (144F) on Monday.

"Rail temperature can be about 20C (68F) higher than air temperature, causing it to expand, bend and break", it said.

Image source, Network Rail

Network Rail is advising people not to travel, external as Thameslink and EMR are not running services.