Heat health alerts issued across England as heatwave grips UK

Amber heat health alerts have been issued for much of England as the third heatwave of the summer kicks in.

The official alerts have been upgraded for southern England, the Midlands and East of England.

The warnings will come into force at noon on Friday and will remain in place until Monday morning, the UK Health Security Agency said.

Less severe yellow warnings remain in place in place for northern England.

Temperatures are forecast to go as high as 32C across England and Wales, with elsewhere in the UK expected to reach the high 20s.

Friday could be Wales’s hottest day of the year so far if the temperature exceeds 30.8C as forecast.

The heat will continue into Saturday, when temperature may reach 31C in parts of central and north-east Scotland, making it the hottest day of the year so far north of the border.

Sunday is set to be cooler as a north-easterly breeze sets in, though temperatures will still be in the high twenties and low thirties for many.

There is also a chance of a few showers across some eastern areas of England.

The heatwave will be over for most on Monday as cooler Atlantic air spreads, bringing cloud and some showers to northern and western areas.