Blaze of glory as heatwave continues in Dorset and Hampshire (From Dorset Beaches)

Blaze of glory as heatwave continues in Dorset and Hampshire

7:00pm Wednesday 1st July 2009

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FLAMING June turned into Scorching July as temperatures remained in the high 80s yesterday. And didn’t we love it? Whether it was a paddle in the sea, an ice-cream on the prom or big-screen Wimbledon in the park, everyone was out in force, determined to enjoy the heatwave.

But while the heat is expected to stay through the weekend, the Meteorologi-cal Office is warning of thunderstorms and showers today in the South West, with warm, sunny spells in between.

For most people the generally sunny outlook will be an added bonus but the hot weather is brining its own concerns. Currently the heat level across the UK is at level 2 but in London and the south east yesterday it was raised to alert levels, as temperatures rose to the 90s Fahrenheit and 30s Celsius, spelling danger for some high-risk groups.

On Monday, NHS Direct took 309 calls from people with symptoms caused by the high temperatures. The very young, elderly or those suffering serious disease are most at risk.

And the TUC said it had started to receive calls from overheated workers suffering with oppressive dress codes. General secretary Brendan Barber said: “We’d like British bosses to think seriously this week about how they can make their workplaces cooler and their staff less overheated.

“Clearly vest tops and shorts are not suitable attire for all frontline staff, but those not dealing with the public should be able to discard their tights, ties and suits and opt for more summery clothing this week.”

A Bournemouth and Poole NHS spokesman advised people to drink more water, stay out of the direct sun between 11am and 3pm, and wear sunscreen. The RSPCA has also renewed its warnings over leaving dogs in cars after four pets were found dead in a vehicle in Scotland.

But we’d better get used to it because the Met Office is predicting more of the same. According to spokes-man Helen Chivers: “The hot sunshine will continue through July and August.”

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