A major incident was declared in Bournemouth today after thousands of people flocked to Britain’s beaches, leaving the emergency services ‘stretched to the absolute hilt’ on the second hottest day of the year in a row.
Furious council bosses said they were ‘appalled’ at the scenes on the Dorset coast, blasting the ‘irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people’ as temperatures hit 91.9F (33.3C) in southern England this afternoon.
Police desperately urged people to ‘stay away’ and ‘think twice before heading to the area’, while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said 558 parking enforcement fines had been issued – the highest on record.
A whopping 33 tonnes of litter has been removed from the beaches today and there has been illegal camping, littering, anti-social behaviour – including drunken fights among beachgoers – and gridlock on the roads.
Detectives revealed the chaos caused by a ‘significant volume of people heading to one area’, where some people were so eager to get a good spot that they camped overnight on the beach. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council said services were ‘completely overstretched’ as huge crowds of visitors defied advice to stay away.
Extra police patrols and security are now protecting refuse crews and traffic wardens as thousands of people also continue to arrive in the town on trains, and council leader Vikki Slade said: ‘We are absolutely appalled at the scenes witnessed on our beaches, particularly at Bournemouth and Sandbanks, in the last 24 to 48 hours.
‘The irresponsible behaviour and actions of so many people is just shocking and our services are stretched to the absolute hilt trying to keep everyone safe. We have had no choice now but to declare a major incident and initiate an emergency response. The numbers of people descending down here are like those seen on a bank holiday.’
The Liberal Democrat added: ‘We are not in a position to welcome visitors in these numbers now or to deal with the full range of problems associated with managing volumes of people like this.’
Meanwhile there is a major alert for a high risk of sunburn especially in the South West with the absence of aircraft in the skies set to give the UK its highest levels of ultraviolet radiation because of a reduction in plane contrails.
Crowds gather on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset today on another scorching day for much of Britain
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as temperatures soar across the country again
Crowds gather on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon as people make the most of the very hot weather again
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as families flock into the water
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth this afternoon as temperatures continue to rise in Britain
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Bournemouth beach in Dorset this afternoon
Visitors crowd together as they enjoy the hot weather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset this afternoon
People make their way along the footpath leading to the packed beach at Bournemouth in Dorset this afternoon
A member of the ambulance service looks out from Bournemouth Pier in Dorset today as crowds gather on the beach
The Met Office said UV rays, which can increase the risk of skin cancer, could reach nine in Devon and Cornwall today, which is ‘about as high as it gets really in the UK’ and are more commonly seen in the Mediterranean.
Temperatures hit 91.9F (33.3C) at London Heathrow Airport at about 3pm, making it the hottest day of 2020 for the second consecutive day after the mercury got to 90.7F (32.6C) in the same spot yesterday.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council said services are ‘completely overstretched’ and declared a major incident
Dorset Police Assistant Chief Constable Sam de Reya added: ‘These are unprecedented times and we are urging people to stay away from the area of Bournemouth beach and other Dorset beaches.
‘We continue to work very closely with BCP council and other partners to ensure the safety of the public. We are also deploying additional resources to provide increased patrols in the vicinity to help tackle any issues of anti-social behaviour and other offences being committed.
‘The declaration of a major incident allows us to bring agencies together so we can take actions available to us to safeguard the public as much as possible.
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as local authorities in the area declared a major incident
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as they pack the seafront in the Dorset town
A social distancing warning sign is displayed against a backdrop of a crowded beach in Bournemouth this afternoon
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as the UK sweats through a mini-heatwave
Crowds gather on the beach at Bournemouth in Dorset today with hundreds of people going into the sea
Crowds gather on the beach in Bournemouth today as the UK continues to enjoy the hot weather
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset this afternoon as the hot weather continues
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth today as Britain enjoys a summer heatwave
Crowds gather on the beach in Bournemouth today making social distancing difficult during the mini-heatwave
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Boscombe beach in Bournemouth today
Some Twitter users suggested the furlough scheme should be stopped because too many people are heading to the beach
‘We are also reliant on people taking personal responsibility and strongly advise members of the public to think twice before heading to the area. Clearly we are still in a public health crisis and such a significant volume of people heading to one area places a further strain on emergency services resources.
No foreign holidays and sunshine provide hope for seaside businesses
This week’s combination of sunshine, no foreign holidays and school closures has brought record takings to some seaside businesses who are hoping the second half of the season could be a bumper time.
Reece Holland, chairman of the Bridlington Leisure Association, said some of the businesses which are allowed to open in the East Yorkshire resort saw big takings yesterday as visitors flocked to the seaside.
But Mr Holland said the a number of businesses in Bridlington, including two bars, have not survived the lockdown, and he still does not know whether the July 4 reopening of his family’s amusement arcade, pub and ice cream parlour will see them break even.
People enjoy the heat today in Bridlington, East Yorkshire
He said: ‘I’ve spoken to a few different people on the harbour who’ve got different businesses and yesterday was one of their busiest ever days. It’s due to the fact that people have been cooped in.
‘They’ve got money in their pockets and the weather’s fantastic, there’s nowhere else to go, there’s no holidays. If 10,000 leave the UK every day to go on holiday, they’re not now. And where are they going to go? They’re going to come to the coast, aren’t they? And rightly so.’
Mr Holland said he is preparing to fully open his businesses on July 4 with a range of special measures in place. These include one-way systems in the amusement arcade with hand sanitisers by the machines and extra staff to continually clean.
But he said he is still poring over the 40-page Government guidelines and cannot be confident he will make any money.
Mr Holland said: ‘Everyone thinks as soon as you get the green light it’s fantastic and money will be coming back in. But I’m actually concerned now that, as soon as we open, there’s going to be that many procedures we have to put in place that I might actually lose money.
People queue outside a fish and chip shop in Bridlington today
‘At the moment, although I’m not earning any money, I’m not losing money.
‘The day those doors open, I could potentially lose money because I need to take my staff off furlough and all the bills start up again.’
But he said there is potential for the second half of the summer season to be good for seaside towns.
Mr Holland said: ‘I think we’re going to have a good back-end.
‘September, October is going to be better than normal. I do believe that a lot of English and British people who normally go to Tenerife, Lanzarote, Spain, they’re going see what Bridlington and what the Great British seaside can offer.
‘I think they’ll be coming back again as long as we’ve got some good weather. We’ve got some of the best beaches here and don’t want for anything else.’
‘This influx of visitors to our area places a significant increase in demand on our service and we would ask people to please bear with us. We would therefore stress again that we are asking people to please stay away from the area.’
Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, said Dorset Police and the local council are unable to cope amid reports of two-hour traffic jams with cars queuing back for 15 miles along the A338 and A31.
Many motorists have been parking illegally on double yellow lines, over cycle lanes and on pavements, seemingly happy to take a £35 parking ticket rather than queue and wait for a space.
Other visitors, who have travelled from as far as Birmingham, camped out illegally overnight on the sand. Residents on Sandbanks said people emerged from their tents in their pyjamas this morning and went to the toilet in sand dunes.
Mr Ellwood urged the government to step in and help control the situation otherwise risk causing a second wave of coronavirus in Dorset. He said: ‘Bournemouth is deluged with visitors and the local authority cannot cope.
‘We have the perfect storm of incredible weather and a liberation of some Covid-19 guidelines and given the wider consequences of a second spike, the government needs to offer assistance and respond to this dangerous event that is happening within a national health emergency.
‘It is beyond the local capabilities to be able to control the roads and manage the situation. Volunteers and traffic marshalls can only do so much to get people to cooperate and move along.
‘It is important that Westminster sees what is happening on the frontline and responds with assets to provide support.
‘When you have mass demonstrations in London the Metropolitan Police can call on other forces to help and I think this is what needs to happen here. The police locally are overwhelmed, they cannot be everywhere. The number of police officers is based on the number of residents in the county, not visitors.’
Mr Ellwood also slammed the ‘selfish’ people who failed to take their litter home with them. He said: ‘These are selfish people who are threatening to prolong the pandemic and also litter our beautiful beaches.’
Stephen Allen, a resident of Sandbanks, said: ‘It is the illegal camping that gets us. You see people coming out of their tents in their pyjamas and head off into the sand tunes with toilet roll. It is very unpleasant.
‘There has been illegal parking happening all over the place. Cars have parked on cycle lanes, double yellow lines and on the pavements.
‘They would happily take a £35 parking fine rather than queue for hours on end for a car park space which will probably cost them the best part of £10.’
Further along the Dorset coast at Lulworth, a local councillor told of the abuse she received when she tried to turn people away because the area was full.
The local authority agreed to set up road barriers when the main car parks at Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door become full.
Laura Miller has been manning one of the barriers. She said: ‘I have been shouted and sworn at and one guy spat at me. These are people who have travelled three or four hours in their car, they are hot and grumpy and then they are turned away.
‘Some drivers have ignored our barriers and just knocked them over and driven through.’
She said that the beach at Durdle Door resembled the aftermath of a music festival last night. She said: ‘The behaviour of some visitors has been foul. There are large groups of people who are totally ignoring social distancing rules.
‘We filled up 30 bin bags of rubbish and the beach stinks of weed. It was like the aftermath of a festival. Most of the visitors have come from London but others have travelled from Birmingham, Bristol and Peterborough.’
Some working Britons claimed the furlough scheme – where the Government agrees to pay 80 per cent of an employee’s salary during the Covid-19 crisis – should be scrapped because too many staff off work are heading to the coast and making social distancing impossible, raising the chilling prospect of a second wave of the virus.
Paul Dulson, from Bournemouth, Dorset, tweeted: ‘I live a few miles from Bournemouth beach and do not visit because of this madness. A great case for ending the ridiculous furlough and getting kids back to school.’
Another added: ‘Why are the people not at work? Oh, that’s right, they all on furlough receiving 80 per cent of their salary paid for by me, to go to the f***ing beach. Meanwhile the likes of me is working my a*** off in this heat.’
And a third said: ‘Just end the furlough scheme now. It’s there to protect jobs whilst we protect ourselves. We’re obviously not wanting to protect ourselves anymore, so let’s just stop paying people to sit on the b****y beach.’
A view of the beach in Brighton today as the country experiences scorching heat again this afternoon
A packed beach at Lyme Regis in Dorset this afternoon as the UK continues to swelter through the mini-heatwave
Thousands of sunseekers head to the south coast as they enjoy the warm weather on Brighton beach in East Sussex today
People enjoy the sunshine at a park in Manchester city centre this morning as the mini-heatwave continues across Britain
Passengers walk along the platform after getting off a busy train as people make their way to Brighton beach this afternoon
A view of the beach in Brighton today as people flock to the Sussex coast to make the most of the warm weather
Sunseekers on Weymouth beach in Dorset today as temperatures continue to soar across Britain
Visitors enjoy the hot weather on the beach in Bournemouth, Dorset, this afternoon
Matilda Swian (left), 19, and Millie Skelhorn (right), 19, enjoy the warm weather in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, as the mercury soared
People sunbathe by the sea in the baking heat in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, with plenty of others doing the same in the glorious weather
Maia Benstead (left), 19, and Lauren Sharpe (right), 19, enjoy the warm weather in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, as the stride through the sea
A sunbather photographs the deer in Richmond Park, west London, as they stroll through a stream to keep cool during the heatwave
Groups of people enjoy the toasty weather in Potters Fields, next to the iconic Tower Bridge, in central London this afternoon
People are seen sunbathing at St James’s Park in London this afternoon as they make the most of the hot weather
A woman dips her toe in the fountains at Trafalgar Square in London this afternoon during the mini-heatwave
A woman sunbathes on a boat on the River Thames in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, as a man slowly steers it through the water
At the start of the crisis, Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed the furlough scheme to protect jobs, and the Treasury is now paying 7.5million workers to stay at home which the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates will cost £100billion.
There was a tragedy in Worthing, West Sussex, as a woman in her 50s died after suffering a ‘medical episode’ on the beach. Tourists were evacuated to make way for the air ambulance but she could not be saved.
Meanwhile more public toilets are now opening, with up to 3,000 available for use according to the Lockdown Loo website, including 15 in Brighton and Hove, seven in Bournemouth, six in Eastbourne and six in Blackpool.
The good weather is due to change tonight as thunderstorms form across the west of the UK, with up to 1.6 inches of rain set to fall in two hours from 4pm along with lightning, hail, strong winds and possible power cuts.
There was also a high alert for dangerous UV radiation levels today. Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: ‘The sun is as strong as it gets at the moment because we’re so close to the solstice. We’ve got peak sun strength, clear skies, plenty of sunshine – it’s the perfect ingredients for high UV.’
There was a tragedy in Worthing, West Sussex, as a woman in her 50s died after suffering a ‘medical episode’ on the beach today, police said. Tourists were evacuated off the sand to make way for the air ambulance but she could not be saved
A group of friends enjoy a drink while sitting in deckchairs on the beach at Brighton in East Sussex this afternoon
Beachgoers enjoy the hot weather on Barry Island today as Wales starts to ease its way out of the Covid-19 lockdown
Beach goers enjoy the hot weather on Barry Island in Wales today as much of Britain makes the most of the conditions
Thousands of people flock to Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon despite the coronavirus pandemic continuing
People walk along the seafront at Bridlington in East Yorkshire today on another very hot day for the country
A boy jumps into the water today at the Three Shires Head, the point where Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire meet
A woman sunbathing on Brighton beach in East Sussex this morning as the hot weather continues for Brighton
People walk through Green Park in London today as the capital experiences temperatures above 90F
People enjoy the sunny weather at Windsor in Berkshire today as the mini-heatwave continues
Among the main reasons for high UV levels given by experts are a hole in the ozone layer that opened earlier this year, and the time of year so near the solstice combined with limited cloud cover and water vapour.
But Michaela Hegglin, a professor in atmospheric chemistry at the University of Reading, added it was also down to a lack of plane contrails, which normally create clouds reflecting UV rays away from the ground.
The expert told the Telegraph the negative impacts of UV levels were massively outweighed by the positive impacts of lower levels of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions during the coronavirus crisis.
She said today could see some of the ‘highest UV levels ever recorded’ in Britain, adding: ‘This is because of a combination of factors. We are at the summer solstice, when the sun is almost directly overhead at 1pm.
‘UV levels this high are rare in the UK, so people with light skin should be very careful to avoid getting burnt. While UV is important for getting vitamin D and keeping us healthy, too much of it can cause skin cancer or cataracts.’
Ozone holes are an annual thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica, caused by stratospheric chlorine. Every year ozone layers fall drastically during the Southern Hemisphere’s spring and the Arctic can be affected too.
People enjoy the warm weather on Brighton beach this afternoon on what is another very hot day for much of Britain
A woman enjoys the sunshine as she relaxes at Battersea Park in South West London this morning
People jump into the water during the sunny weather in Windsor in Berkshire today
Two women laugh as they are photographed at Clapham Common in South West London this afternoon
A view of the beach in Brighton today on another day that has seen temperatures soar above 90F in some areas
Families enjoy the warm weather at the beach in North Berwick, Scotland, today as the UK makes the most of the heatwave
Thousands of people soak up the sun on Brighton beach today with temperatures soaring once again in Britain
Two women go paddle boarding in the sea at Southsea in Hampshire this morning as temperatures soar across the UK again
People soak up the sun on Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon as the hot weather continues
People stand on board a packed train as they make their way to Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
Experts think this started happening in the 1970s as a result of the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were popularly found in aerosols. The hole forms in the Antarctic when cold air is trapped by strong circulating winds.
This leads to the formation of ice clouds, which break down chlorine-containing compounds. It makes the area especially susceptible to ozone depletion, but ozone from other areas returns over the affected poles every year.
Temperatures reached a peak yesterday at Heathrow Airport at 2.46pm, making it comfortably the hottest day of the year, beating the previous record on May 29 when Dawyck in the Scottish Borders hit 84F (28.9C).
Met Office meteorologist John Griffiths said there was a ‘low chance’ the Welsh Marches – the area along the Welsh border – could see temperatures of 34C (93.2F) ‘very locally’.
Should that happen, it would be the hottest June on record in Wales, surpassing the previous peak of 92.7F (33.7C) on June 18, 2000. The UK June record was set on June 28, 1976, when Southampton hit 96.1F (35.6C).
Four-year-old boys Sai Robson and Sunny Louden enjoy the water in the hot weather at Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park today
Passengers disembark a packed train as people make their way to Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
People relax on the grass on the southern bank of the River Thames in the shadow of Tower Bridge in London today
Cows use the River Thames to cool off in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, today as the hot weather continues
Families enjoy the warm weather at the beach in North Berwick, Scotland, today as children play in a lake
A woman holds a book on Clapham Common in South West London today as the hot weather continues
A woman looks out to sea as she enjoys the warm weather at the beach in North Berwick, Scotland, this afternoon
People soak up the sun on Brighton beach in Dorset today as sunseekers head for the coastal areas of Britain
Zed the black Labrador makes a splash in the pond at Clapham Common in South West London this afternoon
Thousands of people flock to Brighton beach in East Sussex today despite the coronavirus pandemic continuing
The public has been reminded to take care around water throughout the summer, amid concerns people might be tempted to take a dip to cool down.
Police break up huge party on Brighton seafront with hundreds of youngsters sent home from the beach after scuffles broke out
Police broke up a huge Brighton seafront party last night and sent hundreds of youngsters home after scuffles broke out.
Ten police vehicles were called to Hove Lawns, West Sussex at 8.40pm yesterday amid reports of ‘pockets’ of violence in the gathering.
The youths chanted at the officers, with one eyewitness calling it ‘like a stand-off between hundreds of youths and police’.
Police break up an impromptu beach party where hundreds of predominantly young adults and teenagers on Hove Lawn this evening on the hottest day of the year so far
Locals believe the youngsters ‘would have finished GCSEs and (had) their end-of-year prom’. One resident called the situation ‘pure mayhem’. Officers issued a dispersal order for the green near Grand Avenue.
Councillor Chris Henry said: ‘Let’s not leave our young people behind in the Covid recovery plans.
Police break up an impromptu beach party where hundreds of predominantly young adults and teenagers on Hove Lawn this evening on the hottest day of the year so far
‘It’s understandable that they’re bored and missing their friends, so we need to ensure their safety and develop activities for young adults so that police and the local community can focus on real crime and staying safe from Covid.
‘Hove Lawns tonight shows how badly solutions for young people are needed and how youth services are needed more than ever.’
It comes as Thames Valley Police said yesterday evening that they had found a body following a search for a missing man at Lulle Brooke in Cookham, Berkshire.
The man, who was in his 30s, was understood to have got into difficulty in the water on Tuesday evening.
A cousin said Syrian refugee Eyad Al Ryabi had gone into the water on Tuesday evening to try to help his friend. The friend survived and was taken to hospital, Thames Valley Police said.
Meanwhile a man in Middlesbrough was taken to hospital after jumping into shallow water at a popular beauty spot.
Volunteers from Cleveland Mountain Rescue team were finishing a ‘litter sweep’ when they came across the incident a Cod Beck reservoir, near Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, yesterday.
A 21-year-old man suffered a leg injury after he jumped into the water and was unable to walk.
A spokesman for the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team said ‘the water was a lot shallower than he expected’ and as a result, was in a lot of pain.
The man was being treated by ambulance crews at the scene when rescue team arrived. Volunteers transported the ambulance stretcher to the patient while a doctor helped to treat him.
Once loaded on to the stretcher, the team helped push the injured man to a waiting ambulance. He was then taken to hospital for further treatment. Eight mountain rescuers and two response co-ordinators involved in the incident for around 40 minutes.
Others were on standby from their training locations but were not required. Crews are now warning people of the dangers of jumping into water.
The spokesman added: ‘It is perhaps worth reminding people about some of the risks of jumping into water – it might be shallower than they think and ‘cold water shock’ is a very, real danger. Put simply – it’s very dangerous – don’t do it.’
Thunderstorms are forecast to form in the south west and south east of England, Wales, western Scotland and Northern Ireland from 4pm today.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather alert for those areas until 9am tomorrow, warning of disruption due to flooding, lightning strikes, hail and wind.
The storms are expected to continue from midday on Friday through to 6am on Saturday, with another yellow warning in place for the whole of the UK.
Areas hit by the storms could experience ‘torrential downpours’ with up to 2in (50mm) of rain falling in an hour.
Yesterday’s good weather saw people flock to beaches in huge numbers despite social distancing measures remaining in place.
The Met Office raised its heat alert level to three, as health authorities encouraged those most vulnerable – many of whom have been shielding during lockdown – to protect themselves amid the ‘exceptionally hot weather forecast this week’.
Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine as they sunbathe and play in the sea on Boscombe beach in Bournemouth today
A view of the beach in Brighton today as temperatures soar above 90F in parts of the country for the second day in a row
Paddle boarders at Bourne End in Buckinghamshire today as the country enjoys further hot weather
A woman sunbathes at Clapham Common in South West London today as the scorching temperatures continue
Sunseekers queue for portable toilets on Brighton seafront today as people flock to the Sussex coast this afternoon
One-year-old Ella Jones enjoys sitting among the wild flowers at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh this morning
Thousands of people soak up the sun on Brighton beach in East Sussex today as the hot weather continues
Denbi. the four-year-old Shepherd Staffie, enjoys the water in the hot weather at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh today
Two people go for a walk through Battersea Park in South West London this morning as they enjoy the sunshine
Public Health England (PHE) said older people, those with underlying health conditions, and very young children were all more at risk from the higher temperatures.
The amber level three, which remains in place for the West and East Midlands, requires social and healthcare services to target specific actions at high-risk groups, according to the Met Office website.
People have been advised to keep cool and stay hydrated where possible. The Met Office said UV levels were expected to remain at eight across many parts of the UK today.
Emer O’Connell, consultant in public health at PHE, said it was important that people kept checking on the vulnerable, as many continued to spend more time at home due to coronavirus.
A woman throws a frisbee as people enjoy the warm weather at Bridlington in East Yorkshire on another very hot day
A couple enjoy the hot weather on their canal boat on Bridgewater Canal in Walton Hall in Cheshire this morning
Unicyclist Jason Auld practises in front of the Scottish Parliament whilst enjoying the hot weather at Holyrood Park today
People sunbathe at Battersea Park in South West London as temperatures soar once again in Britain
Zachary Bower, four, and Isabelle Bower, eight, make sandcastles at Bridlington in East Yorkshire this morning
Josh Atkins, 14, and Oliva Atkins, ten, play in the sea at Bridlington in East Yorkshire this morning
Two women look at their phones while sunbathing at Battersea Park in South West London this morning
A group of women enjoy the warm weather on Hastings beach in East Sussex today as the mini-heatwave continues
Ten-year-old Noah plays in his paddling pool as he cools off in his garden during hot weather in Hertford today
A group of women enjoy sunbathing among the fishing boats at Hastings in East Sussex today
Two men enjoy the warm weather in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, today as the UK enjoys another day of the mini-heatwave
Visitors to Hastings make the most of the hot weather today as the mini-heatwave continues for Britain
A young man enjoys the hot weather in the sea off Brighton beach in East Sussex this afternoon
People enjoy the warm weather in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, today as sunseekers flock to beaches around the UK
A couple relax in the warm weather and sunshine on the southern bank of the River Thames in London this afternoon
Sarah Emberson (left) and John Kelly (right) pose with their children Eirnn, Eve, Elliot and Elise next to their homemade recreation of Glastonbury – which was due to have been taking place this weekend – at their home in Hertfordshire today
Tents on Bournemouth beach this morning as people camped overnight on the Dorset coast for the best spot today
‘You will need to do things differently this year, for example keeping in touch by phone,’ she said.
Boy, 10, dies after getting into difficulty in Scottish loch amid frantic search by emergency services
A boy has died after getting into difficulty in a Scottish loch amid a frantic search by emergency services.
The ten-year-old passed away at Loch Lubnaig near Callander in Stirlingshire yesterday. The child was reported as having ‘difficulty in the water’ at 5.35pm after he reportedly fell into a river near the loch.
Loch Lubnaig near Callander in Stirlingshire (file picture)
A four-hour rescue operation involving a helicopter was launched. Police said the incident was not suspicious.
A spokesman said: ‘A ten-year-old boy has died following an incident in Loch Lubnaig, near Callander, on June 24.
‘Emergency services were called around 5:35pm to reports of a child experiencing difficulty in the water. Sadly, the boy died. There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
Shoppers have also been advised to be aware they could be forced to spend extra time in the sun as a result of social distancing measures.
And dog owners have been urged to avoid exercising their pets during the hottest part of the day.
Vets Now, a provider of emergency veterinary care, warned that the average survival rate of a dog diagnosed with heatstroke was 50 per cent.
The RSPCA said it had received 330 calls in regard to animal welfare and the hot weather since March 23, adding it was expecting ‘hundreds more’ as temperatures increase this week.
Meanwhile, fire chiefs said they wanted to ‘debunk this myth’ that hand sanitiser left in hot cars could pose a fire risk.
Roy Wilsher, National Fire Chiefs Council chair said: ‘We want to reassure people that this product will not combust if left in a car – even on the hottest day. For hand sanitiser to cause a fire it would need to come into contact with a spark.
‘Hand sanitiser is very important in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, therefore it is is essential we debunk this myth.’
People are advised to keep their hand sanitisers containers closed and out of direct sunlight and ensure they keep it away from any naked flame.
London Fire Brigade has warned people not to have barbecues on dry grass, not to drop cigarettes or matches, and not to leave rubbish such as glass bottles lying around amid a risk they could start fires.
In Dorset, stunned officials in Bournemouth today slammed ‘vile idiots’ who left 20 tons of litter strewn across the resort’s beaches following the hottest day of the year.
They blamed a ‘breakdown in decent, civic behaviour’ for the appalling mass of rubbish left behind by over 100,000 visitors – and volunteer litter pickers found many of the public bins were still half empty.
Shocking pictures taken at 4.30am this morning before the local council’s beach cleaning team arrived to clear the mess have sparked fury on social media.
Temperatures are expected to hit 33C or 34C in Britain today (left) after the hottest day of the year so far yesterday (right)
The Met Office has warned of very high UV levels today (left) as well as a very high pollen count for hayfever sufferers (right)
The Met Office has issued thunderstorm warnings for the West from 4pm today (left) and the whole country tomorrow (right)
More public toilets are now opening, with up to 3,000 reported as available for use according to the Lockdown Loo website, including 15 in Brighton and Hove, seven in Bournemouth, six in Eastbourne and six in Blackpool.
Stunned officials in Bournemouth today slammed ‘vile idiots’ who left 12 tonnes of litter strewn across the resort’s beaches
Officials in Bournemouth blamed a ‘breakdown in decent, civic behaviour’ for the appalling mass of rubbish left behind
Shocking pictures were taken at 4.30am today before the council’s cleaning team arrived to clear the mess in Bournemouth
Rubbish which was collected from the beach piled high at Durdle Door in Dorset this morning as the hot weather continues
The bins on Jesus Green in Cambridge overflowing with rubbish today as the hot weather continues
Litter strewn across a park in Bournemouth in Dorset today as people continue to head to the beach to enjoy the heat
A sheep sits next to an overflowing bin in the shade at Tredegar Comprehensive School in Wales this morning
Andy Meldrum skis on some of the remaining snow patches on the slopes of Meall a’Bhuiridh in Glencoe today
The sun rises at Blyth in Northumberland as Britain sweats through a June heatwave with temperatures set to climb further
A woman looks at the English lavender prior to it being harvested at Roskorwell Farm at St Keverne in Cornwall yesterday
Vikki Slade, the leader of Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, said: ‘It doesn’t matter what we do, these vile idiots will ignore the rules. The disgusting mess left on our beaches makes me want to weep.
‘People urinating within sight of loos, parking illegally and just accepting the fine and ignoring the message of don’t come to Dorset is a breakdown of civic behaviour.’
One of the litter pickers on the beach was Peter Ryan, 61, who founded the community group Dorset Devils.
He said: ‘It is sad, disappointing and disgusting to see the beach in such a state. It is the jewel in the crown of the area and it does not deserve to be treated like this.
‘There were so many empty beer bottles, vodka bottles and cans of all varieties left on the sand, even though some of the bins on the pier were half empty. They’ve shown no care whatsoever for this beautiful environment.’
Twitter users posted a series of memes complaining that the high temperatures overnight had left them too hot to sleep
Claire Shouksmith told the Bournemouth Echo today that she saw ‘several piles of human faeces, toilet paper and nappies’, dog mess, urine stains down the pavements, cars still badly parked yesterday and a ‘disgusting’ stench.
At the beach, she said there was ‘masses of rubbish’, a ‘stench of urine and more faeces’, dog mess in the sand despite not being allowed on that part of the beach, campfire debris and broken beer bottles on the sand.
She said: ”I’ve lived here for 14 years it’s usually lovely, clean and peaceful, busy when the weather hot but never have I seen the place left in this horrific state. Why the hell do people think they can use the streets as a toilet?
‘The actual toliets are open all day! When did just leaving your rubbish anywhere become acceptable behaviour and as for the campfires in the sandbleft for people to walk through and burn their feet, I’m lost for words.’
It’s ‘Weston-super-Mud’! Tourists are spotted stuck in mud flats trying to reach the water in Somerset town
Tourists were spotted stuck in mud flats trying to reach the water in a seaside town – dubbed ‘Weston-super-Mud’.
One onlooker said more than 100 people had made their way to the water during low tide in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. With temperatures hitting the 90Fs, some people headed for a dip – but a large group got stuck in mud.
Pictures show members of the local coastguard trying to help as the revellers tried to go for a paddle. A Weston-Super-Mare Coastguard Rescue Team spokesman confirmed they were called to the scene.
One witness said: ‘There was over 100 people seen making their way across the mud to reach the sea. Some were carrying children and were observed struggling to get back to the shore.’
Tourists were spotted stuck in mud flats trying to reach the water in a seaside town – dubbed ‘Weston-super-Mud’.
One onlooker said more than 100 people had made their way to the water during low tide in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
With temperatures hitting 90F highs yesterday, some people in Somerset headed for a dip – but a large group got stuck in mud
Gardeners work to get picturesque walled gardens looking like a sea of colour before visitors are welcomed back
Gardeners have worked round the clock to get walled gardens designed by Sir Walter Scott looking like a sea of colour, before visitors are welcomed back.
Scott, who is considered to have popularised tartan and invented the historical novel, lived at Abbotsford House near Galashiels in the Scottish Borders, where he died in 1832.
He also designed the walled gardens, wanting them to be ‘intimate’ and connected to the house, which was built in Baronial style as a ‘castle in miniature’.
Tim Owen, head gardener of Abbotsford House, once home of Sir Walter Scott in the Scottish Borders, works in the garden
The walled gardens, which would have been used as kitchen gardens during Scott’s lifetime, are now a sea of colour
The gardens will reopen to the public on July 1 – having had just two people looking after them, although locals have been able to wander around the estate including the banks of the River Tweed.
The walled gardens, which would have been used as kitchen gardens during Scott’s lifetime, are a sea of colour having been lovingly maintained during the lockdown.
And this week, 15 volunteers were thrilled to be allowed back to tend to rose beds and apple trees. Entry is usually ticketed but that is being waived and a donation is being asked for.
Head gardener Tim Owen said: ‘We have been keeping things going as well as possible. The intention was to keep the garden going for people, as it would be as if people were coming in. Our main focus was on the walled garden.
‘In other areas we would go round and check the estate. We have got three miles of woodland paths for all abilities, and where the lockdown has eased we have seen families out and about.
Mr Owen, 54, said: ‘Everybody that’s involved loves the place. It has given volunteers a boost being allowed to come back’
The gardens in the Scottish Borders will reopen to the public on July 1 – having had just two people looking after them
‘The walled gardens, in Scott’s time, were kitchen gardens. We have got vegetables, fruit, apple trees and pear trees. We try to plant it to keep it going until the end of November.’
The walled gardens already have a one-way system in place and will be open to visitors on a donations basis. Signs will be put up reminding people to keep a physical distance.
Mr Owen, 54, added: ‘Everybody that’s involved loves the place. It has given volunteers a boost being allowed to come back.’
Entry is usually ticketed but since the five-metre mile travel restriction has been in place, the estate has been open to visitors.
Losses have racked up to £350,000 with no visitors coming in – and the gardens had only been opened for a couple of weeks before it had to close.
But the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £224,200 to pay for day to day costs.
Is a hosepipe ban on the way? Water levels in reservoirs are dropping so much that BEACHES have appeared
A hosepipe ban has been threatened after temperatures in Britain soared causing water levels in reservoirs to drop so much that beaches have appeared.
As people flocked to beaches and beauty spots, utility bosses warned that the dry weather and extra use of water during lockdown mean a drought is likely.
Dramatic pictures show how dry reservoirs in the North West of England have become. Levels have dropped at the Wayoh, Yarrow and Rivington reservoirs in Lancashire so much that some families have even flocked there to sunbathe.
Yarrow Reservoir at Rivington in Lancashire is pictured today with very low levels during the mini-heatwave for Britain
Levels have dropped at the Yarrow reservoir in Lancashire so much that some families have even flocked there to sunbathe
But water bosses are now warning they may have to take ‘additional measures’ – which could include a hose pipe ban – to keep taps flowing and prevent a crisis.
Water suppliers United Utilities has written to households to say it is doing everything it can ‘to avoid having to introduce any water restrictions’.
The firm urged people to take ‘simple measures that can make a massive difference’, including avoiding using hosepipes which can save a whopping 1,000 litres an hour.
The letter states: ‘Our reservoir levels across the North West are getting to the point when we may need to take additional steps to protect our remaining water supplies.
Jumbles Reservoir, near Bolton in Greater Manchester, is also looking dry today after levels continued to drop through June
Jumbles Reservoir is pictured today as United Utilities issued a hosepipe warning after witnessing a big increase in the demand for water
‘We know every drop counts so we’ve got extra teams spotting and repairing leaks across the region too.’
Demand for water increased with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic as people stayed at home.
After with the driest May on record in England and the sunniest start to the spring since records began in 1929, water bosses are urging people to make simple changes.
A United Utilities spokesman said: ‘Our reservoirs are lower than normal for the time of year because of the unusually fine, dry spring we have had.
‘This coupled with more people are at home due to Covid-19, and some recent very warm weather has, at times, seen customers using much more water than you’d expect.
‘Even with some sudden heavy downpours over the last week in some parts of the North West, we’ve not had enough rain to make much of a difference as we’re still using water quicker than the reservoirs can fill up.
Low water levels at Yarrow Reservoir in Lancashire are pictured today with levels in the North West continuing to drop through June
People visit the Jumbles Reservoir today amid concerns over low rainfall and warmer temperatures across the country
‘And with this week’s forecast promising some very hot days ahead, we expect demand for water to increase once again. As a responsible company, we’re keeping a close eye on things and have put well-tested contingency plans in place.
‘This includes using our huge regional interconnected system of pipes to move water around our region so that we take less from sensitive water sources wherever we can, stepping up our action on leaks and cutting our own water usage.
‘We are asking our customers to help because water is a precious resource that we share with the North West’s environment.
‘There will never be a better time to make those simple changes – such as turning off the tap while brushing your teeth – which have little impact on your daily life, but could add up to a big difference.’
Popular Sussex beach forced to close its car parks amid astonishing demand
One of Sussex’s most popular beaches has been forced to close its car parks after high demand paralysed the road network.
Police have also closed the A259 on the approach to the seaside destination of Camber Sands because of the sheer volume of traffic. Today is set to be the hottest day of the year so far.
A spokesman for Rother District Council said: ‘Camber Sands car parks are already full and closed and a police road closure is in place – do not travel to Camber.’
Police closed the A259 on the approach to Camber Sands (pictured this week) because of the sheer volume of traffic
Camber Sands was also gridlocked yesterday after ‘thousands of cars’ descended on the area and overwhelmed the car parks.
Pictures taken from the scene yesterday showed cars stacked up along the narrow roads with nowhere to move.
The huge demand has left Rother District Council concerned that emergency services would be delayed to the area in the event of an accident.
Officers in Rother are in attendance at Camber Sands and have pleaded with people to not come to the area.
It is the second day running that huge crowds of people have flocked to Camber Sands in the hot weather, enforcing closures.
A council spokesman said yesterday: ‘On the hottest day of the year so far, we have again seen a huge number of people heading to the beach which led to all three car parks and the overflow field being closed at 1pm.
‘This resulted in gridlock with thousands of cars queuing for hours with nowhere to go – despite signs on the main roads advising people car parks are full.’
Thrill-seeker risks his life by jumping 200ft off the top of Durdle Door just three weeks after three men were seriously injured doing exactly the same
This is the moment a thrill-seeker today risked his life by jumping 200ft off the top of Durdle Door just three weeks after three men were seriously injured doing the same thing.
The young man dressed only in swimming shorts ignored warning signs and a safety fence to climb bare-foot to the top of the rocky arch on the Dorset coast.
He then flung himself off the top and plummeted with his arms outstretched before landing awkwardly in the water on his back. The impact caused a sickening smack and a huge splash.
The man jumps from the top of Durdle Door in to the sea below on the Dorset coast
Moments before, the man scrambles along the knife edge ridge to get on top of Durdle Door to make the jump
Incredibly, the daredevil returned to the surface and swam back to the beach seemingly unscathed. The incident came three weeks after three tombstoners were hospitalised after carrying out the same stunt.
On that occasion one man who was recovered from the sea had stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
A second man suffered serious back injuries in the fall and spent three days in hospital while the third man suffered a suspected broken leg.
A man who witnessed today’s jump said: ‘I couldn’t believe somebody was foolish enough to do it again. It was early in the day and there weren’t that many people on the beach. I spotted him start to climb the rocks to get to the top.
The young man dressed only in swimming shorts ignored warning signs and a safety fence to climb bare-foot to the top of the rocky arch
‘He must have been very determined because he didn’t have any trainers on or anything. Then when he got to the top he jumped without any hesitation.
‘He landed really awkwardly on his back and it made a sickening sound when he hit the water. He was very lucky not to have been badly injured or even killed, but then you don’t know if he suffered any internal injuries.’
Although tombstoning off the iconic archway at the heart of the Jurassic Coast is not allowed. there is nothing to stop people from doing so.
Coastguards have issued numerous warnings against doing so, not least as there are submerged rocks beneath the door.