Schools shut in two counties due to hot weather

Several schools in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will be closed and others shut early from Wednesday, because of the hot weather.

Those affected in Herefordshire include The Aconbury Centre in Hereford, which will close until the end of Thursday.

Worcestershire County Council said half a dozen schools would shut at lunchtime on Wednesday.

A rare red weather warning for extreme heat has been issued for parts of England and Wales later this week.

The schools include:

• Fairfield High School in Peterchurch will close on Wednesday and Thursday
• St David's Centre, Hereford, is to be shut from 12:00 BST until the end of Thursday
• John Masefield High School and Sixth Form Centre in Ledbury will be partially closed, from 13:15 on Tuesday until the end of Thursday
• Blackmarston School in Hereford will not be open on Wednesday and Thursday
• Oasis Academy Warndon in Worcester will close from 13:00 on Tuesday

Staff at the Aconbury Centre and St David's Centre said they would review the weather throughout the week and reopen sooner if appropriate, Herefordshire Council said.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a red health warning for six regions of England, including the West Midlands, from 01:00 on Wednesday to 23:00 on Thursday.

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