Helen Astle
BBC East Midlands Today reporter

Here's one way to stay cool and have fun at the same time.

Apple-bobbing has been keeping these cows at Stonehurst Farm a-moo-sed during the heatwave.

The team at the animal park in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, has also been lathering pigs in sunscreen as temperatures rise.

The horses are being sprayed with a hose to keep cool.

Simon Ward
East Midlands Today Reporter

East Midlands Trains services are slower today and some are cancelled due to heat affecting the tracks.

Bottles of water are being given to passengers at Nottingham railway station heading off on their journeys.

Notts County were the first team from outside the top flight to win the cup when they triumphed in 1894.

Pip Watts
Reporter, BBC Radio Nottingham

Parents and children looking to cool off on the hottest day of the year so far will be disappointed to find a Nottingham paddling pool is set to stay shut.

The popular pool, on the Victoria Embankment in the Meadows, is closed while Nottingham City Council repairs the pump after it "seized up".

A new pump has been ordered and the 1950s pool should be back in action within the next week or two.

Chris Waring
BBC News

No, this isn't the music video for an 80s power ballad...

Reporters at BBC East Midlands are making use of a giant fan to cool down.

On what could be the hottest day of the year, temperatures in Nottingham could rise above 34C (93F) today.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

It's not just humans that need cooling off in this weather - the lemurs at Tywcross Zoo in Leicestershire are getting through the heat with the help of ice treats.

Warning: Third party content may contain adverts.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

East Midlands Trains has warned there could be disruption to some services today and timetables have been amended as trains go slower to prevent rails from buckling under the heat.

Richard Thoday rode from Land's End to John O' Groats on a penny farthing.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It's clearly going to be hot today - but is it going to be the hottest?

Temperatures are set to push 35C in some parts, so let's have a look at the current record highs for the region.

Image source, Mark Hallam

In Leicestershire, the University of Leicester recorded 35.1C on its campus on 9 August 2003.

The Derbyshire village of Coton-in-the-elms baked in 34.1C on 19 July 2006.

But it was in Nottinghamshire that the East Midlands' hottest temperature was reached, with a sizzling 36.1C recorded in Clarborough on 3 August 1990.

So we may get a record for July, and for Leicestershire and Derbyshire, but it seems unlikely today will beat the overall record.

Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online

A cow has been rescued after getting stuck in a land drain in Derbyshire.

Crews were called to Park Hall Lane, near Ilkeston, yesterday evening and, after being sedated, the animal was hoisted to safety.

Originally known only by her number - 994 - she was then named Joanna after one of the firefighters.

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It's going to be the peak of the heatwave today - plenty of sunshine is expected through this morning, staying dry and clear throughout.

We could also see July's highest ever temperature for the East Midlands.

The sisters of famous playwright Joe Orton are among those campaigning for a statue in his memory.

Steeplejacks abseil from the roof of the building to repair the 92-year-old timepiece.

Sussex Sharks, Birmingham Bears and Notts Outlaws all enjoy victories in the latest round of T20 Blast matches.

Convicted rapist Jason Lawrance, 54, is accused of sex attacks on six more women he met through a dating site.

Nick Smith
BBC News Online

A man has been locked up for more than four years for a metal bar attack which left his victim needing surgery.

Police say Gedion Obhiambo kicked down the door to the victim's room at a house in London Road, Nottingham, before hitting him repeatedly with a metal bar leaving him with two broken arms and a broken foot on the night of 15 June 2018.

Obhiambo, 22, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm with intent at Nottingham Crown Court on 1 May and was jailed for four years and four months at the same court yesterday.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

David Pittam
BBC News Online

As many as 20 youths have been reportedly seen swimming in a lake despite warnings of the risk of drowning.

They were also setting fires around Colwick Park in Nottingham, the local community protection officers said, external, adding "please be safe this summer".

Last summer a 16-year-old drowned while swimming in one of the lakes in the park.

The council has warned people about the dangers of swimming in the open water, which is murky and hides dangers such as reeds under the surface, "however tempting it may be" when it gets hot.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

Chris Doidge
BBC Radio Derby, political reporter

Campaigners from Extinction Rebellion and other groups have gathered at Derby City Council offices.

The authority declared a climate emergency on 22 May but campaigners say it hasn't done enough since then.

David Pittam
BBC News Online

Police investigating a stabbing want to speak to anyone who saw two men at the scene.

One is described as white, in his mid to late 20s with tattoos on his arms and a Polish or Romanian accent.

The second is also white and about the same age, 6ft tall and of a stocky build. Both had hair shaved on the sides.

Image source, Google

The stabbing happened on Monday at 13:00 in Armadale Drive, Netherhall, Leicester.

The victim, in his 20s, is still being treated for the injuries - although they are not believed to be life-threatening.

Officers also want to speak to anyone who saw two dark-coloured cars being driven in an unusual way in Scraptoft Road between midday and 13:00.

The house was "severely damaged" and the cause is unknown at this time, said the fire service.