Heatwave spreads to Scotland and Northern Ireland

Temperatures reached 33C in Ross on Wye on Saturday afternoon as the UKs third heatwave of the year spread across the country.

Scotland has already recorded its warmest day of the year so far with a high of 32C - while Northern Ireland saw its hottest day in almost three years.

The latest heatwave has led to hosepipe bans being declared for millions of people in England. In Scotland, wildfire warnings are in place across much of the country.

The heat has also affected sporting events, with Wimbledon fans braving close to the hottest womens finals day at the tennis championship.

Amber heat health alerts cover southern England - where it is hottest - until the end of the heatwave.

The Midlands, south-west England and south Wales have seen the highest temperatures - of at least 32C.

Thousands of fans travelling to a Stereophonics concert in Cardiff faced cancellations after heat damage closed a railway line.

One fan catching a train from Aberdare compared the scenes unfolding at the station on Saturday morning to "a nightmare".

"It was steaming in there - it was so hot," she told BBC Radio Wales.

National Rail has warned commuters of possible disruption to travel this weekend as overhead power lines and rails across Britain could be affected by the heat.

Meanwhile, a series of running events ranging from 10K to an ultra marathon in Eryri - also known as Snowdonia - were called off amid the "extreme heat".

Temperatures hit 31C in Wimbledon, in south-west London, as Iga Swiatek beat Amanda Anisimova in the womens singles final. The current record of 31.2C occurred during the 1976 womens final.

This heatwave peaked on Friday, when 34.7C was recorded at Astwood Bank in the West Midlands.

However, its widespread nature means Scotland and Northern Ireland also saw temperatures of 30C or higher on Saturday.

In Perth, fire crews spent a second day tackling a wildfire, where flames could be seen creeping up a hillside.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) has issued an extreme risk of wildfire warning, urging people enjoying the outdoors to exercise caution when using a naked flame or objects made of metal or glass that could spark a fire.

The risk of wildfire is currently rated as "severe" in London by the Natural Hazards Partnership.

"Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. Thats why were asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly," the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) chairman Phil Garrigan said.

Firefighters in Surrey were battling a wildfire to the south of Farnham which had grown to eight hectares as of Saturday evening.

Separately, fire officials warn of an increased risk of drowning when trying to keep cool, urging parents to supervise children around water at all times.

Amber heat health alerts cover from the south coast to Stoke-on-Trent and Scunthorpe will remain in place until 09:00 BST on Monday.

These signify a rise in deaths - particularly among over-65s and those with health conditions - is likely, as well as a rise in demand for health services. But it also means heat may affect people working over the weekend and pose staffing issues.

Less severe yellow warnings are in place for the rest of England - meaning the heat could affect vulnerable people.

A hosepipe ban is in place in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex after a particularly dry spring.

This can mean restrictions on certain activities like watering gardens, washing cars, or filling up paddling pools - and those who break the ban could face a fine.

Yorkshires hosepipe ban came into force for more than five million people on Friday - and is expected to last until the winter.

South East Water also introduced its ban in Kent and Sussex on Friday, and has not said when it will be lifted.

It said the region had faced its driest spring in almost 130 years and that demand for drinking water had "reached record levels" since May.

Thames Water also warned on 9 July that it could announce a ban of its own, blaming dry weather and increased customer demand.

While linking climate change with specific individual extreme weather events can be difficult, scientists say that climate change is generally making heatwaves hotter, longer and more frequent.

Three summer heatwaves in quick succession after an unusually warm spring suggests climate change is having some effect on 2025s weather - impacting not just humans but wildlife as well.

The heat will continue into Saturday evening, with temperatures in the low to mid-20s as late as 23:00.

Sunday will see highs in many areas dip slightly but London could continue to swelter in 30C heat or above.

But the heatwave is expected to end for most on Monday, as cooler Atlantic air brings temperatures closer to the seasonal average for much of the UK.

The changed weather pattern will also bring rain to some areas, including those where rain has been seriously lacking recently.

However, those in the south-east of England may have to wait until Tuesday for some respite from the heat, with temperatures set to remain around 27C or 28C on Monday.

Correction July 29: The headline and first sentence were edited to reflect that temperatures reached 33C in Ross on Wye on the date of publication. The earlier version of the story said this was the peak for the UKs third heatwave. This was not correct and we have added that a day earlier in the West Midlands a temperature of 34.7C was recorded.