Red warning as South East faces record temperatures

The Met Office has issued a red weather warning for extreme heat in parts of south-east England from 09:00 BST on Wednesday to 21:00 on Thursday.

It said: "An exceptional spell of hot and humid weather is expected, with impacts to the general population highly likely."

Forecasters believe temperatures could reach 38C (100F) in the South East by Wednesday, with one Surrey hospital already declaring a critical incident.

South East Water is asking customers to conserve water, with problems to supply already reported in Maidstone, Kent, along with problems caused by a burst water main in Crawley, West Sussex.

Weather expert Jim Dale told BBC Radio Surrey this week's temperatures could "obliterate" previous records.

"June's record is 35.6," he said. "Records normally fall by tenths of a degree, not two or three degrees, that's just ludicrous.

"That happened also in May when we got 35.1, that beat the previous by a couple of degrees. Something's going on beyond what you might call a normal heatwave.

"Climate change is involved, global warming's involved, that exacerbates the situation."

South East Water said customers in Ulcombe near Maidstone had seen supplies interrupted due to increased demand, with a burst main causing problems for customers in Crawley.

In a statement on its website the company said: "We are seeing increased water use in some areas which may mean you have no water.

"This extra demand affects the boosters which pumps the water to customers properties."

East Surrey Hospital has declared a critical incident due to high levels of demand, with the situation being "exacerberated" by the heat.

Dr Catherine Glass, a GP from Walton on Thames, Surrey, said: "The elderly are not as good at regulating their core body temperatures, the same goes for children.

"It's about keeping well hydrated. Do not be in direct sunlight at all in temperatures above 30 degrees.

"If you are going to drink alcohol, always drink a non-alcoholic drink in between each."

While the Health and Safety Executive has a minimum temperature for indoor work spaces, there is no maximum temperature, although it adds employers must provide a "reasonable temperature".

Monday is the first day of the Eastbourne tennis championships, with players and spectators facing sweltering conditions.

Ken Pollock, president of the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's probably one of the best weeks of undiluted sunshine the tournament's ever had."

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