Bea Swallow
West of England

Image source, Getty Images

Residents are being advised to put their bins out earlier than usual this week as councils across the West try to shield collection crews from the hottest parts of the day.

Crews from Cheltenham Borough Council and Somerset Council will begin collections an hour earlier, at 06:00 BST, while Bristol Waste will start rounds from 05:00.

Cheltenham Borough councillor Steve Harvey said: "This is to help our crews and vehicles cope in the heat and ensure that they're able to complete the scheduled collections."

The changes come a month after hot weather caused disruption to bin collections in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, including numerous lorry breakdowns and malfunctioning mechanisms.

Bea Swallow
West of England

The heatwave comes after at least 18 people in the UK died after getting into trouble in open water during a hot spell in May.

"We're asking for everybody to just be very wary around bodies of water," said Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge.

"In the last heatwave, unfortunately, quite a few people lost their lives by going into cold water."

He added: “That’s still very much an issue, so just be careful how you cool yourself down.

“If there’s the option between a hose pipe and jumping in the lake, probably go for the hose pipe and just keep yourself safer.”

Image source, Getty Images

Bea Swallow
West of England

Transport operators have also warned of potential disruption, with high temperatures capable of affecting road surfaces and rail infrastructure.

Great Western Railway announced it was running an amended service following the weather warning and urged passengers to check journey times before they travel.

Image source, PA Media

National Rail says it will be closely monitoring sections of railway track to detect whether the steel is expanding or curving, and will introduce speed restrictions to prevent further buckling.

National Highways South West warned tarmac can also soften in extreme temperatures.

"In the most severe cases, we consider closing lanes for safety reasons," it said.

"We monitor the network very closely during these times, so that we can carry out necessary repairs as quickly as possible."

Bea Swallow
West of England

Image source, Getty Images

A number of schools across the West region have confirmed they will close early, citing concerns over staff and pupils spending prolonged periods inside stuffy classrooms.

In Wiltshire, Kingdown School, Clarendon Academy, Pewsey Vale School and Dilton Marsh Primary are among those who say lessons will finish at 12:30 BST.

Kingsholm Primary in Gloucester will close its doors at 13:30 BST every day until Thursday, and advised pupils they were welcome to wear their PE kit to class.

They added all after school clubs, except Cool Kids, will be cancelled this week.

Bea Swallow
West of England

According to the Met Office, a red weather warning indicates "it is very likely there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure".

The meteorological service advises to avoid travelling where possible, and follow the advice of local emergency services and local authorities.

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather Presenter

Image source, Met Office

BBC weather presenter Sara Thornton says this is the first time the Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning in the West of England, proving "just how serious this heatwave is".

"We are going to see record-breaking temperatures several days in a row across the region, and the heat will be so extreme it will affect many people, not just the vulnerable," she said.

"Temperatures are likely to get into the mid to high 30Cs for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, combined with tropical nights.

"The advice now is to adapt normal activity in order to stay as cool and sheltered as possible."

Bea Swallow
West of England

Forecasters predict with "growing confidence" that this week could break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton.

Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge described it as a "very unusual, rare spell of very hot weather".

"This is the second heatwave of this year already so it just shows that the warming climate means that these more extreme spells are becoming more frequent," he said.

"That's unfortunately just the way things are going at the moment and it doesn't seem to be slowing down."

Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage as the West of England braces for an exceptional heatwave, with temperatures forecasted to reach as high as 39C over the next four days.

The Met Office has issued a two-day amber warning for extreme heat for today and tomorrow, now followed by a two-day red warning for Wednesday and Thursday, which experts say "will likely lead to widespread impacts on people and infrastructure".

Stay tuned throughout the day as we bring you the latest forecasts, travel updates and advice on staying safe in the heat.