A health warning has been issued ahead of blazing hot weather on Friday.

The Met Office has issued an amber level 3 warning – meaning public health bodies have to act to keep people safe from the extreme weather.

It is forecast to hit a scorching 34C in Hitchin on Friday and temperatures will remain in the 30Cs for most of the day, between noon and 8pm.

The weather shows no sign of cooling afterwards.

Saturday is forecast to be 32C and it will reach 28C from Sunday to Tuesday.

Met Office advice

Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions.

Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.

Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather and slow down when it is hot.

Advice on how to reduce the risk can be obtained from your doctor or local chemist, or ring NHS 111.

The highest temperature recorded so far this year is 37.8 celsius, recorded at Heathrow last Friday.