Heatwave peak set to bring 34C to parts of UK

Parts of the UK could see one of the hottest June days ever as a heatwave, now in its fourth day, peaks on Monday.

Temperatures of 34C are possible around the Greater London and Bedfordshire areas with a small chance of reaching 35C.

If the temperature does go above 34C as expected, it would be in the top three hottest June days on record. It is not expected to challenge the hottest day though of 35.6C set in 1976.

Wimbledon saw its hottest opening day on record, with provisional data showing temperatures of 29.7C in Kew Gardens on Monday. Glastonbury Festival advised people to leave the site before early Monday morning to avoid the building heat.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued heat health alerts are across England.

Amber alerts covering Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East and South West are in place until 09:00 BST on Wednesday.

People in those areas are being told to expect possible travel delays.

A yellow alert for the North West is also place until Wednesday, though there is currently no alert for the North East.

The high temperatures mean all of these areas are likely to experience a rise in deaths particularly among the vulnerable, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

However, it won't be hot everywhere. Scotland and Northern Ireland have escaped the heatwave conditions and once again it'll be fresher there - 17 to 22C - with some rain moving in gradually through Monday.

Night-time lows are only predicted to fall to 20C in some areas heading into Tuesday.

An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK.

This is the second heatwave of the year.

Guidance from the UKHSA recommends keeping out of the sun in the hottest part of the day between 11:00 and 15:00, wearing hats, sunglasses and suncream.

Experts have said that climate change has made heatwaves stronger, with even a small increase in the Earth's average temperature shifting heat extremes to much higher levels.

Scientists at the World Weather Attribution group estimate that such conditions in June are now about 10 times more likely.

There is also a "severe" risk of wildfires according to the London Fire Brigade.

And Craig Bennett chief executive The Wildlife Trusts, said that the hot, dry weather had left the ground parched.

"It's really devastating if you see all the grasses dried out - as wildlife depended on them for food," Bennett said.