The time for action is now

For many of your correspondents, the summer of 1976 stands as the benchmark for extreme heat.

- Caroline Snow, via email

A year that brought severe drought, national water rationing, and a scorching 35.9°C in Cheltenham-at the time, the second hottest day on record.

It felt unprecedented. Yet, a look at the latest Met Office figures, with records stretching back to 1884, reveals a clear and concerning trend.

Four of the five highest UK temperatures have occurred since 2019.

Topping the list is a staggering 40.3°C recorded in Lincolnshire in July 2022, with Cambridge hitting 38.7°C in 2019.

The 1976 record now sits at a distant 13th place.