Amber heat health alert across East of England amid heatwave
Amber heat health alerts have been issued across Essex and the East of England, and hosepipe bans come into force in the South East amid the third heatwave of the summer.
The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA's) latest heat health warning comes as hot and dry weather scorches England, with temperatures set to rise further over the weekend.
The alert came into effect at 12pm on Friday and will cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England and London until 9am on Monday.
It follows two other amber alerts issued in consecutive weeks at the end of June amid two separate heatwaves.
The alerts warn of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over, or with health conditions, because of the heat.
South East Water said demand for drinking water had reached "record levels since May", adding: "This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover."
Similar to its Yorkshire counterpart, it means customers are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pools or ponds or clean paths, walls or windows.
Customers who ignore the bans could face fines of up to £1,000.
Meanwhile, fire chiefs are urging people to stay safe as they warn of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave.
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is asking people not to enter water in a bid to cool down and urging parents and caregivers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times.
Possible highs of 33C on Saturday mean the third heatwave will fall short of the top temperatures of 34.7C recorded earlier in July, but this heatwave will be more widespread, the Met Office said.
Oasis told fans to prepare for "extreme sun and heat" ahead of their first gig in their home city of Manchester for nearly 16 years on Friday.
In a post on social media, the band urged concertgoers to "wear a (bucket) hat", put on sun screen, stay hydrated, seek shade and look after one another at Heaton Park.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) issued warnings over the risk of wildfires and tragedies in water amid the hot weather.
The fire service has responded to 23 wildfires this year, four of which occurred this week, including one in Rainham on Thursday where 80 firefighters responded to tackle a blaze spanning nine hectares.
A further 70 firefighters fought a grass fire on Wanstead Flats, near Capel Road in Manor Park, east London, on Friday .
The risk of wildfires in London is currently rated at "severe" by the Natural Hazards Partnership.
HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for holidaymakers heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings occurred in July over the last three years.
The service urged people to check the weather forecast and tide times, steer clear of cliff edges and bases, avoid mud, inform others of their whereabouts and have a fully charged phone.
Chief coastguard Pat O'Callaghan said: "We'd like the public to enjoy the warmer weather and our wonderful coastline, but they need to be aware of the risks. Mud, tides, cliffs and offshore winds can very quickly put lives in danger."
Meanwhile the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged people to drink water regularly, seek shade and use sunscreen.
Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: "Heat is no longer just a holiday perk, it's a growing public health risk.
"We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities."