Britain sees its hottest ever late August bank holiday

Another record has been broken during a sweltering British summer as the Met Office confirmed today is the hottest ever August Bank Holiday Monday.

Experts recorded temperatures 83.5F at Tibenham Airfield in Norfolk this morning, beating the previous record of 82.8F set in 2017 at Holbeach in Lincolnshire.

And it is unlikely to be the record for long, with temperatures set to climb throughout the day, possibly even rising above the 92F that made yesterday the hottest August Bank Holiday weekend ever.  

It comes after meteorologists confirmed July was the hottest ever around the world with both Britain and Europe caught in a heatwave that caused massive transport disruption by melting railway tracks and causing thunderstorms that grounded planes. 

The Met Office confirmed it is the hottest ever Bank Holiday Monday in August today, with hundreds already packing out Bournemouth beach, pictured, this morning to make the most of the sun 

Sunbathers also soaked up the rays on the Jurassic Coast in West Bay, Dorset, with temperatures only rising

Sunbathers also soaked up the rays on the Jurassic Coast in West Bay, Dorset, with temperatures only rising

10-year-old Kadie Lane, pictured, cooled off in the sea at Blyth in Northumberland to cool off in the intense heat

10-year-old Kadie Lane, pictured, cooled off in the sea at Blyth in Northumberland to cool off in the intense heat

Others made sure they were safe from the blazing rays by topping their sun cream up. Pictured is a couple in Dorset

Others made sure they were safe from the blazing rays by topping their sun cream up. Pictured is a couple in Dorset

This Met Office heat map shows East Anglia and the south east are the warmest part of Britain today, and temperatures could still exceed the August Bank Holiday weekend record setting 92F recorded at Heathrow yesterday

This Met Office heat map shows East Anglia and the south east are the warmest part of Britain today, and temperatures could still exceed the August Bank Holiday weekend record setting 92F recorded at Heathrow yesterday

Families have set up chairs and parasols en masse at Bournemouth with space becoming limited due to sheer numbers

Families have set up chairs and parasols en masse at Bournemouth with space becoming limited due to sheer numbers

The sun will shine brightly across the UK today before cloud and rain moves in during the middle of the week

The sun will shine brightly across the UK today before cloud and rain moves in during the middle of the week

The mercury is not quite high enough to make it the hottest August 26 ever though, which was 91F recorded in Cromer, Norfolk, in 1864. 

Met Office meteorologist Craig Snell said: ‘All in all, if you like the sunshine and the hot weather, then it is going to be a good day.’ 

Mr Snell added: ‘Temperatures will be very similar to Sunday. We are likely to see something like 33C (92F).

‘There could be scope that the record could be nudged up, but either way, it is going to be a hot day across the UK.’

Early morning fog is set to lift to leave a sunny day, while some rain may reach the far North West later.

There is going to be plenty of sunshine across eastern and central parts of the UK, while it is set to be fresher in the North and West. 

Three-year-old golden retriever Honey, pictured, enjoyed playing around in the sea off Weymouth and managed to snag a loose marker buoy

Three-year-old golden retriever Honey, pictured, enjoyed playing around in the sea off Weymouth and managed to snag a loose marker buoy

Families set themselves up for a fun day at the beach in Blyth, Northumberland, pictured, with buckets and spades in tow

Families set themselves up for a fun day at the beach in Blyth, Northumberland, pictured, with buckets and spades in tow 

Tents and flags were set up at West Bay in Dorset, pictured, while other enjoyed a swim or bodyboarding in the sea

Tents and flags were set up at West Bay in Dorset, pictured, while other enjoyed a swim or bodyboarding in the sea

Paddleboarding was also on offer in Blyth, Northumberland, pictured, with some content to sit and float through the water

Paddleboarding was also on offer in Blyth, Northumberland, pictured, with some content to sit and float through the water

The Met Office said temperatures today will also be sweltering and more records could be broken in the south east

The Met Office said temperatures today will also be sweltering and more records could be broken in the south east

Temperatures could be in the low 20s in the West, Northern Ireland and the South.

The late summer sunshine, as a result of warm air being dragged up over the UK from France, comes at the end of what has been a wet and chilly month so far.

It comes after thousands of fans at a sold-out Headingly in Leeds baked in the sunshine over the weekend as England kept their Ashes hopes alive thanks to a scorching innings by Ben Stokes.

And hundreds of thousands of people enjoyed what is thought to be the hottest Notting Hill Carnival ever in west London. 

Huge crowds have built up in Notting Hill to watch processions through the streets, pictured, and enjoy the Bank Holiday tradition before heading back to work tomorrow

Huge crowds have built up in Notting Hill to watch processions through the streets, pictured, and enjoy the Bank Holiday tradition before heading back to work tomorrow

Meanwhile crowds are already lining the street to watch performers walk through the roads in colourful costumes at the Notting Hill Carnival today, pictured

Meanwhile crowds are already lining the street to watch performers walk through the roads in colourful costumes at the Notting Hill Carnival today, pictured

The previous best late August bank holiday temperatures before this weekend were 31.5C (88.7F) at Heathrow in 2001, 27.3C in Velindre, Powys, in Wales and 27C (80.6F) in Knockareven, Co Fermanagh, both in 2003, plus the 26.7C (80.06F) that was recorded in Aviemore, Invernesshire, in Scotland in 1984.

Wales enjoyed a record 28.6C in Hawarden on Sunday when the top temperature in Northern Ireland was 24.2C at Stormont Castle.

Scotland’s top temperature was the 28.4C recorded at Bishopton near Glasgow on Sunday. Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland. 

Dozens of Legoland riders including a grandmother are stranded 30 feet in the air as The Dragon rollercoaster breaks down in searing 90F heat

A Stoke-on-Trent family have told how their day out to Legoland turned into a disaster – when the ride they were on broke down in 90F (32C) heat.

Grandmother Danielle Hollins, 48, from Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent was joined by eight other relatives to celebrate her birthday at the Windsor theme park yesterday.

But they were left terrified when The Dragon ride broke down after they reached the top – leaving them trapped 30ft up for around 45 minutes in soaring temperatures.

The family had initially queued for the log flume for nearly two hours but Lego Land announced the ride was being shut, so the group queued for The Dragon rollercoaster instead, Mrs Hollins said. 

Danielle Hollins's grandson Finley, aged nine, was left terrified after the Dragon ride at Legoland Windsor broke down at its highest point

Claire Downing, the partner of Ms Hollins's son Matthew, suffered from vertigo and so was also terrified when she had to be escorted down by staff wearing harnesses

A Stoke-on-Trent family were left terrified when The Dragon ride at Legoland broke down after they reached the top – leaving them trapped 30ft up for around 45 minutes in soaring temperatures. Danielle Hollins’s grandson Finley (left), aged nine, and Claire Downing (right), her son Matthew’s partner, were left terrified

After queuing for another 30 minutes to get on it, the ride stopped just as it reached the top.

Mrs Hollins said: ‘All in all we were up there for 45 minutes in 32C heat. My son’s partner suffers from vertigo so she was terrified and was escorted off first.’

According to Danielle, seven rides broke down at different points during the day, causing mega queues across the resort.

The 48-year-old was joined by her partner Matthew Hall, aged 45, her sons Harrison Taylor, aged 15, and 26-year-old Marcus George.

And Mr George, who lives in Porthill, also brought along his partner Claire Downing and their children Ebony, aged 16, George, aged 11, Finley, aged nine, and five-year-old Zachary.

Now the family have been offered refunds by Legoland on their £60 tickets after going on just one main ride – the rapids – having left home at 7.30am and getting back at around 11pm.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk