Heatwave hacks how Britain is coping with heat on what could be hottest UK day ever

As Britain boil on what could be the hottest day in history, people up and down the country are trying everything they can to cope in the heat.

From fans on the London Underground to ice packs and cold flannels strapped to people’s foreheads, Britons are resorting to desperate measures to keep themselves and their beloved pets cool.  

Thousands of workers abandoned the office in favour of working from home, where they fashioned garden desks complete with ice-cold drinks and paddling pools. 

Those who had to brave the sticky morning commute bought ice lollies for their colleagues and propped open doors in the absence of air conditioning.

Pet owners are making sure their furry friends don’t overheat by plonking them in front of fans and putting ice cubes in their water bowls.  

The mercury is expected to rise to 102.2F (39C) in London and the south east today, which would be the hottest day since records began. 

People are strapping ice packs to their foreheads to keep cool and propping open doors at work on what could be the hottest UK day ever

Those working from home plonked their pets in front of desk fans to stop them overheating. Ross put his pooch Twiggy where he would stay the coolest 

Public Health England advised people to put their bed sheets in the freezer before they went to bed last night, leaving windows wide open and fans up the max.  

This morning staff at Nottingham Hospital decided to make the most of the blistering conditions by putting a batch of cookies on the dashboard of a car to cook them in the heat. 

Women feeling the heat on their chests have also been investing in ‘freezable bras’ that have ice pack padding.

Their cotton covers means customers are spared from any embarrassing leaks.

In the shops, rose wine is flying off the shelves as the temperature rises. 

Currys PC World say fan sales are up 200 per cent while John Lewis and Partners reported selling six fans a minute yesterday.

The department store has also seen sales of temperature balancing bedding soar by 76 per cent while linen sheet sales are up 82 per cent.

Laurence Mitchell, electricals buying director at John Lewis, said: ‘Sales of fans are up 120 per cent and we’ve seen strong demand for handheld fans in particular which are an ideal way to keep cool on the move.’

Staff at a hospital in Nottingham decided to make the most of the blistering conditions by putting a batch of cookies on the dashboard of a car to cook in the heat

 

Eyna the trainee hearing dog made sure to avoid sticky surfaces as she relaxed this morning

Brac the Welsh Terrier was pictured by his owner licking an ice cube in a desperate bid to stay cool 

These piglets at Pennywell Farm in Devon were given their lunch inside an ice cube yesterday

Currys said Dyson and Logik Pedestal models are also clocking up a lot of interest online.

A Dyson model was visible in a window at Buckingham Palace when the Queen met Boris Johnson to be sworn in as Prime Minister yesterday.

Waitrose shoppers have provided the supermarket with two of its biggest weeks ever for sales of rose wine while also sending sales of English sparkling wine up 71 per cent and Champagne up 27 per cent.

Wine buyer Rebecca Hull said: ‘We closely monitor the weather as a rise in temperature of even just a few degrees will see a change in what our customers are shopping for.

‘We are anticipating a rush on rose this week as the weather is set to warm up and bottles of fizz are making their way into ice buckets across the country.’

This man set up his own beach spot on Blackfriars Bridge in central London yesterday 

Workers bought ice cream for en masse to make sure they keep cool in the office today 

Superdrug reported sales of cooling sprays rising by 116 per cent on Monday compared to Sunday in preparation for the heatwave, while sales of deodorants and body sprays were up 26 per cent week on week following the temperature increase.

Meanwhile, Halfords warned drivers to get their car’s air conditioning checked.

Aaron Edwards, from Halfords Autocentres, said: ‘Dirt can build up in your car’s air con system and can also be a breeding ground for other microorganisms which can cause allergic reactions.

‘It can be easily solved by taking your car in for an air conditioning clean which is designed to remove bacteria that has built up over time.

‘We also recommend changing your car’s pollen filter regularly to keep your car free from irritants.’

Have you taken any pictures of the hot weather? Email them to pictures@mailonline.co.uk or share your heatwave stories by emailing lara.keay@mailonline.co.uk or calling 0203 615 1637 

These two made sure they had cold packs on their heads within minutes of waking up this morning