A high of 40C is forecast in the southeast of England on Friday

The Met Office has issued a rare ‘red warning’ for temperatures which are expected to reach 39C

The 50-year record was broken this afternoon in Charlwood, Surrey, when the mercury surpassed the 35.6C set in 1976.

A 69-year-old benchmark falls as temperatures surge across southern England

A temperature of 36.1C at Gosport in Hampshire was recorded on Wednesday

A high of 40C is forecast in the southeast of England on Friday