UK killer heatwave WARNING: Met Office alert for ‘dangerous’ weather as deaths feared

UK killer heatwave WARNING: Met Office alert for ‘dangerous’ weather as deaths feared

Britain baked in scorching temperatures in the high 20Cs on Monday as a plume of boiling air from Europe and Africa engulfs the nation.

Forecasters believe temperatures could climb above 30C in southern England in the coming days, hotter than many holiday hotspots in Spain and elsewhere.

The heatwave is forecast to last for at least the next 10 days as Britain prepares for a “sun cream summer” of wall-to-wall blue skies and glorious sunshine.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a health alert, warning vulnerable people, namely OAPs and children, to take care during the exceptionally hot spell of weather.

When temperatures reached highs of 32C during the summer of 2009, 300 more people than usual died, figures from PHE show.

During the June of 2011, 367 more deaths among over-65s were recorded in just two days in London and eastern England, according to PHE’s research.

There are fears deaths of vulnerable people could reach similar levels during this June’s heatwave.

Met Office forecaster Alex Burkill said: “It’s a notable event and could be intense. Some people will enjoy it – but some won’t.

“A very prolonged spell of hot weather is starting.”