UK weather: Hottest late August bank holiday on record is reached amid heatwave

Record follows UK's highest ever recorded temperature in July

A new record temperature has been set for the late August bank holiday weekend, with 33.3C recorded at Heathrow, according to the Met Office's provisional reading.

It is the second time in one day that the record has been broken after a temperature of 31.6C was recorded earlier - beating the 31.5C record set at Heathrow in 2001.

Earlier this year, the UK saw its highest ever recorded temperature (38.7C) during a heatwave in late July.

Last month was also the hottest ever recorded globally, according to meteorologists.

The record-breaking heat comes as one million people are expected to attend Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday and Monday.

A number of other major events are also taking place this weekend, such as Manchester Pride, Reading and Leeds Festival, and Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Amber heat health warnings are currently in place for the East Midlands, east of England and southeast England.

On Saturday, a new record for the highest late August bank holiday temperature in Wales was set when 27.4C was recorded near Aberystwyth.

People in those regions are advised to stay out of the sun, keep hydrated and look out for anyone who may be vulnerable to extreme heat, such as older people.

Experts have said the increased frequency of heatwaves is linked to human activity, with Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, warning that this summer's record-breaking heat is a consequence of climate change.

“If we do not take action on climate change now, these extreme weather events are just the tip of the iceberg. And, indeed, the iceberg is also rapidly melting,” Mr Guterres said.

“Preventing irreversible climate disruption is the race of our lives, and for our lives. It is a race that we can and must win.”