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The rare red weather warning for extreme heat has been extended in London and the South East, as the Met Office expects the “exceptional spell of hot and humid weather” to continue until Friday night.
Hundreds of thousands of people have come under a hosepipe ban in Kent as the extreme heatwave drives record demand for water.
South East Water is urging its 850,000 customers in the county to immediately follow the restrictions, which will be enforced from 3 July.
Chief executive officer, David Hinton, said it had to prioritise essential needs and protect vulnerable people.
“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately,” he added.
It follows the hottest June night on record in the UK after overnight temperatures in Cardiff failed to drop below 23.5C.
At least 10 motorists were taken to the hospital after being stranded in the extreme heat on the M25 during the hottest June day ever.
Train passengers have been told to only travel if necessary, as commuters face significant travel delays and cancellations amid the red weather warning.
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Anglian Water put 1600 million litres of water into supply yesterday
Anglian Water put 1600 million litres of water into supply on Wednesday – far higher than its typical distribution of 1200 million litres a day.
The increase is roughly equivalent to supplying an extra county the size of Lincolnshire, it said.
Ian Rule, the director of water services for Anglian Water, has urged customers to avoid using hosepipes and use less water wherever they can.
He added that there was no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban this year.
“We recognise that water plays an important part in keeping cool and staying hydrated during the heat, but anywhere you can cut back – for instance, by reusing water from paddling pools to water your garden, taking shorter showers or putting off non-essential tasks like washing the car – will make a significant difference over the coming days.”
Earlier today, South East Water imposed a hosepipe ban on 850,000 of its customers in Kent.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 14:22
Schools closing in heatwave shows more to do to modernise buildings, says education secretary
Schools having to close or shut early to protect pupils and staff during the heatwave shows “there is more to do” to ensure buildings are equipped to deal with extreme heat, Bridget Phillipson has said.
At least 1,000 settings made decisions to either close completely or send children home early on Wednesday and Thursday, as the June temperature record – held since the infamous summer of 1976 – was smashed.
The education secretary has faced calls to urgently modernise school buildings, in particular to fit them with air conditioning – with climate change likely to make the high temperatures seen this week less rare.
During a visit to Beanfield Primary School in Corby, Northamptonshire, on Thursday, Ms Phillipson told the Press Association: “Schools have had a difficult time of it in that we saw a huge backlog building up over many many years, schools crumbling, we had the Raac (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete) crisis.
“There’s been a big job of work left in order to really make sure that all our schools are modern buildings that are able to deliver a brilliant education for our children.
“We are investing a lot of money in making that a reality, but I think the challenges that schools are facing around the extreme weather at the moment demonstrate that there’s more to do.”
The government allocated £2.4 billion in 2025/26 to improve the condition of the school and college estate.
(Getty Images)
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 14:10
British woman dies at campsite in Western France on hottest day of year
A British woman has reportedly died at a campsite in Western France on Wednesday when the country recorded its hottest day ever.
The Daily Mail spoke to an employee at the campsite who confirmed that an elderly British woman collapsed and died at the Baie D-Aunis campsite.
More than 50 people have been killed in France during the intense heatwave.
A three year-old boy also died after becoming trapped in a car in Paris.
The toddler slipped into the family car while his father thought he was sleeping but was unable to get out due to the child lock, public prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:59
Man dead after entering water at South Wales beach
A 50-year-old man died after entering the water at Aberavon Beach in South Wales on Wednesday.
Police were called to the beach at around 4.25pm following reports that a man required medical assistance.
South Wales Police said the coastguard performed CPR until the arrival of the air ambulance and paramedics, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 4.50pm.
The man is from Cilfrew in Neath Port Talbot and his family has been notified.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, police said.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:45
UK breaks record for three consecutive days of red weather warnings
The Met Office has extended its red weather warning until Friday, marking the first time a red warning for extreme heat has been issued for three consecutive days.
It’s also the second ever red warning for extreme heat to have ever been issued, with the first issued in July 2022.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:36
Toddler dies in hot car after becoming trapped while mother slept in 40C heatwave
The toddler slipped into the family car while his father thought he was sleeping but was unable to get out due to the child lock, public prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said.
The child’s mother was having a nap with the couple’s 18-month-old other child while the father worked in the garden shed, the prosecutor told French media.
“He apparently shut himself in and became trapped in the vehicle before being found unconscious by his parents,” the prosecutor said, adding that the mother is in hospital in a state of shock.
More follows on this breaking news story…
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:27
UK theme parks, zoos and museums among attractions closed due to extreme heat
Top tourist attractions across the UK are closing their doors until Friday as Brits brace for record-breaking temperatures up to 40C.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:20
Heatwave to ‘maintain its grip on the UK for a little longer’
The Met Office’s chief meteorologist said parts of the UK will still experience the intense heatwave “for a little longer.”
A red warning for extreme heat in London and parts of south eastern England has been extended until 9pm on Friday.
Andy Page said: “This exceptional spell of hot and humid weather will maintain its grip on the UK for a little longer.
“Although the current red warning for areas in more central and western parts of England and Wales will expire later today, the heatwave will still be bringing high temperatures to these areas, albeit moving away from the peak heat of Wednesday and Thursday.
“We are expecting that some daytime maximum temperatures could exceed 36C, perhaps rising to 37C in some locations.”
There will also be high humidity, which would lead to uncomfortably warm, humid nights, the Met Office said.
“Significant disruption to daily life is likely and the public should take every effort to adapt their daily routines to cope with these levels of heat, which up to now have been extremely rare for the UK,” Mr Page said.
As the heatwave eases, the Met Office said the east and southeast of England will retain the warmth the longest, although there should be a climbdown in temperatures by Saturday, with peaks around 32C likely.
Next week, a more westerly influence on the UK’s weather is expected, with a return to more average temperatures for the time of year and a mixture of winds and rain, particularly in the northwest, the weather service said.
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:12
Heatstroke symptoms: Key signs to look out for amid red weather warningHeatstroke symptoms: Key signs to look out for amid red weather warning
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 13:00
Hosepipe ban map: Is my area under restrictions during UK heatwave?
Harriette Boucher25 June 2026 12:43