Image source, Getty Images

Schools across the south have announced closures or ammended timetables after the Met Office issued a red weather warning for extreme heat across much of the region.

Alongside those already announced, Maiden Erlegh Trust has said it's schools across Berkshire will close at 13:30 BST on Tuesday and not reopen until Friday.

Explaining the decision in a letter to parents, Maiden Erlegh School headteacher Steve Jupp said: "While we appreciate the inconvenience that short-notice closures may cause for families, the health and safety of students and staff must remain our priority."

Meanwhile, St Birinus School in Didcot said its days would be ending at 12:15 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

In a post on its facebook page, the school said this was to "ensure everyone remains safe during these unprecedented weather condition".

Image source, Fareham Borough Council

Fareham Borough Council is urging residents to check its website and social media , externalfor updates on bin collections during this week’s hot weather.

To protect crews working in high temperatures and keep services running, the council said collections will start earlier than usual from Tuesday 23 June.

Residents are asked to put their bins out earlier, ideally the night before their usual collection day.

Image source, Philip Joyce

It’s not just humans trying to keep cool during the heat wave.

Creative keepers at Oxfordshire’s Cotswold Wildlife Park have been providing frozen treats to the animals, from the smallest – Mabel, a pygmy marmoset – to the tallest – its tower of giraffes.

Assistant animal manager Chris Kibbey explained that the treats were made specifically for each animal’s diet.

Image source, Philip Joyce

“The lemurs were treated to lollies made from blended cucumber and pear and the bamboo lemurs had a healthy blend of cucumber and celery.

“The larger animals weren’t left out, with the camels being given a frozen cocktail of carrot, cabbage, watermelon and apple and the giraffes received carrot, cabbage and apple,” he added.

George the giant tortoise, the park's oldest resident at 90, also enjoyed a cool shower thanks to staff.

Image source, Phillip Joyce

Image source, Philip Joyce

Image source, The Henry Box School

Schools across Oxfordshire and Hampshire have closures and early finishes this week due to extreme heat.

Headteachers have cited concerns over the safety and the comfort of pupils and staff, with some schools relaxing uniform rules and adding extra water stations as well as cutting the day short.

Education reporter Vanessa Clarke said the government does not normally advise schools to close, and that most of the time the heat can be managed safely.

But she said schools are expected to adapt to keep pupils safe and comfortable, with many already relaxing uniform rules and asking children to bring sunscreen and sun hats.

"Older school buildings, which can be harder to keep cool, will often have had staff in early opening doors and windows to keep air moving," she added.

Guidance from the UK Health Security Agency says schools may need to close their windows later in the day if it becomes hotter outside than in, and that fans should not be used once temperatures pass 35°C.

Lessons may be moved to cooler parts of a school, and hot meals could be swapped for cooler options. Some schools may also change their start and finish times to avoid the worst of the heat.

Oxfordshire

The Henry Box School, a secondary school in Witney, will close at 11:30 BST on Wednesday.

In a letter to parents, headteacher Wendy Hemmingsley highlighted the warnings issued by the Met Office and said the safety of students and staff is the school's "highest priority".

She said rising temperatures can make learning environments "increasingly uncomfortable".

Outside of the closure, Hemmingsley said students could wear PE kits to help keep cool and said the school was installing additional water stations around the building.

Ducklington Primary School has announced a closure from 13:15 on Tuesday and said it would consider its position regarding the rest of the week.

Hampshire

Eggar's School in Alton is closing from 13:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Grateley Primary School in Test Valley is bringing forward collection to 13:15 on Wednesday and Thursday, citing the red weather warning.

Cranbourne School in Basingstoke will close at 12:50 on Wednesday and Thursday, while Crestwood Community School, near Eastleigh, will close at 13:00 on Wednesday.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a warning over the risk of heath and woodland fires.

The service said barbecues and campfires should not be lit on heathland or in open spaces. People are also reminded to check local rules, as they are banned in many country parks and campsites.

Cigarette ends should be properly extinguished and taken home rather than discarded.

Anyone spotting a fire in the countryside is urged to get to safety and call 999, giving as much detail on location as possible.

The service is also warning of the dangers of cold water shock in rivers, lakes and the sea, even on hot days.

Group manager Shaun Milton said: "The exceptional weather that is forecast for the coming days means that we all need to take care when out and about.

"We want people to enjoy the sunshine, but we do urge everyone to think about what they're doing and perhaps amend their plans to stay as safe as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

Sophie Cridland
BBC South reporter

Image source, Getty Images

A cat rescue centre is encouraging people to ensure their pets stay safe as temperatures rise.

Hilary Ford, from Waifs and Strays Cat Rescue in Bournemouth, said: “It’s also really important to monitor the sun and provide shade for cats too.”

The centre's volunteers are carefully monitoring the temperatures of its pens that house rescue cats and kittens.

Cats owners are being urged to check conservatories, greenhouses, sheds and summerhouses before they are locked up because they could become a "deathtrap" if a cat gets locked inside.

Wet food, according to the centre, should not be kept out in the heat because it could be ruined by flies laying eggs.

Image source, Waifs and Strays Cat Rescue in Bournemouth

This afternoon will be very warm or hot with plenty of sunshine. It will turn cloudier later on with the chance of the odd shower.

Tonight will start partly cloudy with the odd lingering shower. It will turn dry and clear after midnight. A warm and muggy night.Sam Fraser has the latest forecast for the south of England.

Image source, New Forest District Council

New Forest District Council is reminding residents to take extra care with bins and food waste caddies in the hot weather - warning the conditions can increase the risk of flies and maggots.

Advice includes locking outdoor caddy lids, using liners, and keeping bins out of direct sunlight.

The council said food waste should go in the outdoor caddy rather than general rubbish, and items prone to smelling, like nappies, should be bagged.

It also said crews will begin bin collections from 5:00 BST on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to help them avoid the hottest part of the day️.

The council introduced waste food collections last year but free-roaming ponies and donkeys were seen scattering waste from the new bins, prompting a warning about the spread of serious animal diseases.

How's this for an unusual looking cloud that was spotted in the blue skies above Hampshire?

The cloud, which we think resembles the familiar outline of Britain, was spotted above Ringwood on Sunday morning.

Image source, Getty Images

Campers are departing the Isle of Wight Festival after a sun-soaked weekend of live music.

More than 50,000 people attended the four-day sold-out festival held at Seaclose Park near Newport, with Lewis Capaldi, Calvin Harris and The Cure headlining.

Festival-goers were using umbrellas, sun cream and ice to help stave off the heat.

Many among the crowd told BBC Radio Solent they were delighted with the weather.

"I'd rather be hot than wet," said one woman.

Image source, Getty Images

Great Western Railway has responded to heat warnings by running an amended timetable on Monday and Tuesday.

The operator has encouraged customers across the Thames Valley to prepare for changes during the hottest parts of the day, with track temperatures forecast to reach levels that require speed restrictions.

GWR said extreme heat can cause rails to expand and buckle, meaning services are required to slow down in order to ensure safety, leading to fewer trains and slightly longer journey times.

The changes will mostly impact local stopping services between Reading and London Paddington, with changes to trains serving Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.

Due to the short-notice changes, industry information systems will not show the correct train timetable until the day of travel.

Image source, Getty Images

Stuart Rust
South of England reporter

Good afternoon. An amber warning for extreme heat is in force across our patch Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset.

A red warning, the most serious level, follows from Wednesday for parts of southern England, with highs of 38-39C possible.

We're already seeing disruption across the south.

We'll be following the heatwave's impact throughout the day.

Get in touch if it's affecting you or your community.