Heat surrender

THE third intense heatwave of the year peaked at 33C yesterday as temperatures are finally set to drop this week.

- SASKIA ROWLANDS

Thousands flocked to the coast to cool off and are expected to do the same today as a Sunday roast is forecast in many areas.

Steve Willington, of the Met Office, said: "Sunday looks like being a little cooler than Saturday but 30C is still likely across central and southern parts of England and eastern Wales, with locally 31C possible." Yesterday temperatures hit a high of 33C at Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire - below England's record for the year of 35.8C in Kent on July 1.

But Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all recorded their hottest days of the year.

Scotland was the warmest for over two years with the mountain sports resort of Aviemore a sweltering 30.8C.