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In pictures: Storms, solstice and staying cool

BBC Weather Watcher/Mike Jefferies Glastonbury Tor in the middle is surrounded by green fields and trees and above there is a stunning grey storm cloud in a dark sky with a glimmer of sunlight on the horizonBBC Weather Watcher/Mike Jefferies
BBC weather watchers captured some stunning images this week - including this one at Glastonbury Tor

A record-breaking heatwave caused hundreds of schools and services to close across the West of England this week.

The extreme weather also sparked two storms, with lightning strikes causing house fires and damaging roads.

But despite the high temperatures, lots of events still went ahead including the annual Bristol Sounds concerts.

Here is a selection of photographs from across the West this week.

Bristol

Hayley Thompson A line of young people wearing T-shirts and light shirts sing and wave their arms as they stand on the front row during a concert at the Bristol Sounds seriesHayley Thompson
A wide shot of the stage and crowd at Bristol Sounds Festival during the evening. The sun is setting on the buildings opposite the river and the sky is blue with wispy clouds.

Don't stop the music: Despite the sweltering heat, fans have been heading to the Harbourside almost every evening this week as the annual Bristol Sounds concerts got into full swing. The concerts come to an end on Sunday night with Royel Otis, Luvcat and The Covasettes.

Matthew Harris Very bright white lightning strikes seen in a purplish sky with wooded trees beneathMatthew Harris

Extreme weather: There were lightning strikes seen in the skies above Bristol this week - one of which caused the roof of a house to set fire as warm temperatures gave way to thunderstorms on Monday night.

PA/Ben Birchall Seven middle-aged rowers in a large wooden rowing boat are pausing to drink in the middle of a river. There is a larger boat anchored in the background behind a large wooden fence and greeneryPA/Ben Birchall

Thirsty work: These rowers needed a rehydration break whilst enjoying the water in Bristol harbour this week.

Bristol Beacon A long row of Bristol Boycott pioneers and family representatives sitting together in a theatre with further empty rows of blue and red geometric-patterned chairs behind them. Several of the men and women are wearing traditional Caribbean clothes which are brightly colouredBristol Beacon

Pausing to remember: Bristol Beacon celebrated Windrush Week with a special performance of the musical Jamaica Love, which marks the 78th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush. Bristol Boycott pioneers and family representatives were welcomed onto the stage in recognition of their civil rights campaign.

Bristol Noise/Good Faith Partnership A group of young people on a lawn in front of a large brick municipal building with a fountain in front. Bristol Several of the men and women are holding litter pickers aloft. They are all smiling to cameraBristol Noise/Good Faith Partnership

Community action: People across Bristol joined the national campaign Million Acts of Hope taking part in activities including litter-picking to improve neighbourhoods. The events were organised by Bristol Noise and Good Faith Partnership.

Somerset

PA Media A woman in a pink swimsuit cools herself with a small handheld electric fan as she sits in a large circular plunge pool. Behind her in a field other people are stretching in various yoga poses while further in the distance the water and wooded islands of Chew Valley Lake is visiblePA Media

Cooling off: This plunge pool overlooking Chew Valley Lake looked like a good spot to escape the heat.

Weather Watchers/Robin Thomas A landscape scene with fields and trees below and a very dark sky with a band of very storm-like clouds swirling into the distance. There is a light glimmer of sunshine low on the horizonWeather Watchers/Robin Thomas

Storm clouds: This image was captured earlier this week above Glastonbury by one of our weather watchers.

RUH Three women, including an elderly lady, in an outdoor swimming pool, all smiling to camera in the sunshine. There are lanes set up with orange ropes with small pink floats. RUH

Making a splash: Patients living with a stoma have been rediscovering their confidence in the water during swimming sessions run by the United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust.

Gloucestershire

World Jungle A group of young people in summer clothing, jumping up with their hands in the air, on a lawn in dappled sunshine with a red and white striped tent in the background and lots of treesWorld Jungle

Roll up, roll up: Young people are getting involved in performance and art projects as part of the Great Big Climate Circus which is currently touring Gloucestershire.

The circus provides a forum for "turning young people's climate concerns into confidence and collective action".

Getty Images Four young women stand by a sandstone wall in the Cotswolds village of Bibury. They are dressed in jeans and light-coloured tops and are sharing two umbrellas between them as they shade themselves from the sunGetty Images

Finding the shade: These tourists made sure to stay out of the hottest part of the day as they visited the Cotswold village of Bibury

Cirencester Tennis Club Two older women on a clay court dressed up in tennis gear from the olden days - both are wearing long white skirts and one woman has a blue and white striped blazer and straw boater. The other is wearing a head scarf. They are both holding wooden rackets and have large medals on red ribbons round their necks. Cirencester Tennis Club

Game, set, match: Players donned vintage tennis whites at a party to celebrate the centenary of Cirencester Tennis Club.

The occasion was a chance to "reflect on the club's proud history, while looking ahead to an exciting future".

Sudeley Castle and Gardens Three young children - a boy and two girls are on a bench outside a castle, which has a tower and battlements against a blue sky. The children are in summer shorts and t-shirts and are looking at each other and smiling.Sudeley Castle and Gardens

Living history: There are lots of exciting reasons to visit Sudeley Castle and Gardens this summer as young visitors will be able to step back in time and learn how to become a knight or try out the life of a squire.

Costumed storytellers will add a flavour of life at the castle when bravery and chivalry ruled.

1996 F1 Williams car - which is mostly blue with some white on the body and blue, white and yellow branding, on the runway at Cotswold Airport on a sunny day. There are blue hangars and other planes on the edge of the airfield and a few members of staff are stood behind the car.

Need for speed: This 1996 F1 Williams car had an outing at Cotswold Airport near Kemble ahead of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex next month. The car proved to be the most successful of the entire 1996 field; winning 12 of the 16 races during the season.

Wiltshire

PA Media A woman wearing a white top and a floral headdress stands near the stones of Stonehenge just before dawn. She has long wavy blonde hair and is holding a white hula hoop with each handPA Media

Was it just a week ago? Last Sunday thousands of people gathered at the ancient site of Stonehenge - and other locations in the West - to watch the sun rise to mark the summer solstice.

BBC Weather Watchers - BOA G A long ridge-shaped bank of dark grey cloud is seen above the houses of a villageBBC Weather Watchers - BOA G

Moody skies: Many people in Wiltshire were startled by thunderstorms on Monday evening, when sunny skies were swiftly replaced by dark clouds. Thank you to weather watcher BOA G for this picture from Bradford-on-Avon.

Malmesbury Town Council Two people smiling outside an ambulance. One person smiles with a Ukraine top on.Malmesbury Town Council

Ambulance adventure: Mayor of Malmesbury Robert Hastings is preparing to join well-wishers to see off the town's gift of an emergency ambulance and 4x4 Medical Support vehicle as it departs to their Ukrainian Friendship Town of Cherkasy.

It will be driven by a team of five volunteers from local support group Malmesbury Stands with Ukraine, which has raised more than £20,000 from the local community.

Martin Parr-Magnum Photos A horse scarecrow by the side of a roadMartin Parr-Magnum Photos

Gift to us all: The National Trust has opened a new exhibition at Lacock Abbey this week to present the last major commission created by the late British photographer Martin Parr.

"Martin was smart, serious, witty and hardworking," said curator Dr Andy Cochrane. "Collaborating with him was a joy, and his focus on Lacock last year was his gift to us all."

Swindon IVC A group of people smiling outside as they drink prosecco and glasses of wineSwindon IVC

Anniversary joy: Social club Swindon IVC gathered this week to celebrate 80 years of the national association they are affiliated to, the Association of Inter Varsity Clubs. The group is self-run by volunteers and enjoys pub nights, meals out, book clubs, craft circles and short holidays.

Wiltshire Council A group of about eight older people standing in the entrance to a building with one man holding scissors and about to cut a red ribbonWiltshire Council

Essential groceries: Residents in All Cannings celebrated the reopening of their village shop in a new building.

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