The UK record for the hottest day in June was broken for a third day in a row on Friday, with temperatures reaching 37.3C in Suffolk, the Met Office has said.
The 50-year-old record was beaten by more than a full degree, highlighting the intensity of the heatwave which has gripped the country this week.
It has resulted in travel disruption, hundreds of schools closing, and six NHS trusts declaring critical incidents after being overwhelmed with patients.
But the scorching heat is expected to ease over the weekend, and a yellow warning for thunderstorms has been issued for Scotland and parts of northern England.
The provisional hottest June temperature was recorded in Santon Downham on Friday.
It surpassed the high of 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday, which followed 36.1C (97F) recorded in Gosport, Hampshire, the previous day.
Wales saw a peak of 35.1C in the village of Hawarden in Flintshire, and Scotland’s highest temperature of 29.2C was recorded in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries and Galloway.
It was cooler in Northern Ireland, where a high of 25.6C was recorded in Katesbridge, County Down.
All four nations have experienced their highest temperatures of the year so far this week, with sweltering conditions of more than 20C continuing through the night for many in England and Wales – in what forecasters refer to as “tropical nights”.
A red warning for extreme heat, which means there is a risk of serious health effects, was in place across London, the east and south-east of England until 21:00 BST on Friday.
There are also amber heat warnings in place until Saturday evening for south-west England.
