Send workers home if temperatures hit 30C indoors: MPs' warning as mercury is expected to rise to 32C making today the hottest day of the year

Two men drowned in a lake where swimming is banned in King's Lynn, Norfolk, yesterday while trying to cool off

Met Office issue a level three heatwave warning - when the weather can be dangerous for the very old and young



Britain will bask in the fifth consecutive day of 30C-plus weather today for the first time since 2006



Warmest day of the year so far was last Saturday when mercury hit 31.9C in Southampton



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A group of Labour MPs warned that workers should be sent home if the temperature hits 30C as mercury is set to hit 32C today, on what could be the warmest day of the year so far.



The proposal, laid out in an Early Day Motion, points out that while employees can be sent home if it is too cold, there are no rules about working indoors in hot weather.



Linda Riordan, Labour MP for Halifax, said that many workers are ‘subjected to high temperatures which can impact seriously on their health and well-being’.

This morning the Met Office issued a level three heatwave warning - which is where there is a 90 per cent chance of mercury hitting 32C in London and 31C in the south-east.



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Spray: Children play in the fountain 'Appearing Rooms' by Danish artist Jeppe Hein, on the Southbank in central London. Send us your weather pictures to mailonlinepictures@dailymail.co.uk

Relaxing: Visitors to London's Hyde Park sit in deckchairs but a Heatwave Warning is set to be issued by the Met Office Living up to their name: Beachgoers lean up against the Hot Walls in Old Portsmouth, Hampshire Flat out: A man relaxes in the hot weather in Victoria Tower Gardens in central London yesterday. Today temperatures could hit 32C According to the Health and Safety Executive, temperatures are covered by the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a ‘reasonable’ temperature in the workplace.

But the HSE website says: ‘a meaningful figure cannot be given at the upper end of the scale’ due to a range of factors including humidity and air velocity.

Yesterday two men were found dead in a lake where swimming is banned after apparently jumping in to cool off as Britain basks in the first heatwave for seven years. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next The water-fools: Fathers risk their children's lives by... Sunbathers pictured relaxing by the River Cam... yards from... Summer holiday booking numbers fall as Britons decide to... Share this article Share The pair went missing yesterday afternoon after being spotted in the water at the Bawsey Pits country park near King's Lynn, Norfolk. Police officers, firefighters and paramedics launched a search for them and their bodies were recovered from the lake last night. In Cambridge, a couple were found dead on the banks of the River Cam yesterday just a short distance from families enjoying the warm weather. Weather warning: The Met Office this morning issued a level three alert - which means there is a 90 per cent chance of heatwave conditions Good old days back? A bumper barley crop is harvested in the old fashioned way with horse drawn ploughs at Beamish Musuem's Heritage Farm in County Durham SUMMER HOLIDAY BOOKINGS FALL BECAUSE OF WARM WEATHER

With Britain's temperatures rivalling those of the sun-kissed Mediterranean, it's understandable that many will be taking to their gardens to lap up the rays.

But while many revel in the spell of hot weather, travel agents are tearing their hair out - as consumers ditch their holiday plans and instead enjoy the hot weather at home.

The predicted lengthy heatwave means that many have opted to save cash by transferring their holiday plans from exotic trips abroad to their local parks and pools.

Online travel agents have seen bookings for summer holidays drop more than 20 per cent in the last week, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Steve Endacott, boss of On Holiday Group, said that after a slew of national celebrations in recent years, he had hoped that a slump in bookings would be revived this year.

'To be honest, few of us saw this coming, having expected a decent late bookings market without the distractions of European football tournaments, the London Olympics or royal weddings,' he said.

'Unfortunately my personal conclusion is that it will probably last as long as the heatwave does, and rather than delaying the booking decision, it may be simply removing customers from the market.'

The man and woman were declared dead at the scene and a third person was taken to the city's Addenbrooke's Hospital for treatment. It is believed all three had been drinking by the riverside as part of a group since the previous evening and had taken drugs, though it is not known what substance was involved.

Police said there were early indications the deaths were drug-related but officers refused to rule out the searing 29C heat as a contributory factor.

Today temperatures could creep as high as 32C in parts of England, making it the warmest day of the year so far. It means Britain will bask in its fifth consecutive day of 30C-plus summer weather - the first prolonged 'heatwave' since 2006. Last Saturday 31.9C, or 89.4F, was recorded in Southampton, which was the hottest July day in seven years. Gemma Plumb, forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: 'There is no proper definition of "heatwave" in the UK - but we are undoubtedly in the midst of one now.

'It is the longest period of hot weather since 2006, with prolonged temperatures above the average for the time of year. Normally we can expect it to reach 20-22C in England and Wales - today parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, the south coast and London could see 30C-plus.' And sun-worshippers can expect to enjoy balmy Britain for a while yet - with the rest of the week expected to vary from 25C to 31C.

Miss Plumb said: 'At the moment it looks as though the warm weather is going to stay well into next week at least.' In Newcastle, young troublemakers have started to open up fire hydrants in a bid to cool down in the hot weather, police said.

Likening the scenes to something more common in downtown New York, Northumbria Police said lives are being put at risk. But they warned that opening hydrants is a criminal offence and they will arrest anyone caught doing it.

Police Inspector Mark Farrimond said: 'It may all seem like fun and games, but fire hydrants are there for a very good reason - to save lives.

'Opening them up is a criminal offence and we take it very seriously. Earlier this month we arrested a 19-year-old man after a hydrant was opened on Belgrave Parade in Elswick.

'As well as affecting water supplies and causing local flooding, opening up such hydrants causes real problems for firefighters.'

The fire service said that if crews were unable to access a hydrant in the event of a blaze, people could lose their lives.

B-b-b-boiling: Penguins at Birdland Park in the Cotswolds are cooled down with a shower as temperatures soar across the country. Ice blocks have been deployed to keep the flightless birds feet happy in the roasting temperatures - and a queue forms at the cooling shower every day as the hot spell continues Party: Youngsters laugh as they sunbathe in Old Portsmouth, Hampshire, earlier today

Cooling off: A man and woman look down at a waterfall in Hyde Park, left, while Summer Passmore, two, from Clerkenwell, London, cools off in the pavement fountains at the Royal Academy court yard in central London As the hot weather continues, the Met Office ramped up their heatwave warning for London and the south-east from level two to level three, one step below the maximum.

Across much of the rest of England a level two alert is still in place.

The system is overseen by Public Health England, a Department of Health agency, in a bid to reduce the health impact of the current run of stifling temperatures across the UK. A level three warning is triggered as soon as the Met Office forecasts that there is a 90 per cent chance of temperatures being high enough on at least two consecutive days to have significant effects on health. Death rates rise soon after temperatures soar, with many fatalities occurring in the first two days. Level three is triggered as soon as the Met Office confirms that a threshold temperature has been reached in any one region or more. These vary according to the area, but the average temperature is 30C during the day and 15C overnight.

A decision on what level of warning is in place for each of nine English regions is made every morning from the beginning of June to mid-September by a team of forecasters in the Heat Health Watch Service at the Met Office. Today two regions of England are at level three, five at level two and two at level one. Wales is also at level one.

Laughter flows: Luella Facer (left) and her friend Summer Passmore, both two and from Clerkenwell, London, laugh as they are caught in the water spray

Heatwave: Members of the Serpentine Swimmers Club enjoy the scorching weather early this morning, but the blazing sun presents a serious risk to health, said health authorities

'Unbelievably stupid': Two fathers were condemned yesterday for pushing children in buggies across a dangerous waterfall - instead of using a bridge right above them.

The foolish fathers risked the toddlers lives as they wheeled the pushchairs across the slippery waterfall on the River Taff in Cardiff

A Met Office graphic showing what temperatures will feel like tomorrow. Summer Passmore (right), two, squeals in delight as a fountain drenches her



A summer heatwave in 2003 caused 15,000 'excess deaths' in France, so many that morgues ran out of space. That same summer Britain recorded 2,000 excess deaths during a 10‑day heatwave.

Under a level three warning carers are urged to check on vulnerable people and health staff are told to help and advise clients including access to cool rooms, close monitoring of vulnerable individuals, reducing room temperatures with shading, turning off unnecessary lights and equipment and ensuring discharge planning takes the extreme temperatures into account.

A level four warning is classified as a major incident where the stifling temperatures continue for so long it could even affect infrastructure, such as transport and power.

Heat seekers: As temperatures in London soared, many headed to Richmond Upon Thames, such as this woman enjoying a quiet read

Ellie Sole (in pink), 19 and Sophia Good, 21, frolic in the sea on Southsea Beach in Hampshire The two friends take a dive into the sea in an effort to cool off as temperatures across the UK show no signs of dropping Sun-kissed: Sunbathers in Green Park, City of Westminster in central London Improvised shelter: A woman covers her head with an item of clothing to protect herself from the sun's rays Idyllic: A man in Kensington Gardens, central London, enjoys a coffee and his book in the shade Floating away: Swimmers cool down in the Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park Capital fun: Londoners flocked to open-air pools, lidos, 'wild swimming' spots and paddling pools in a bid to escape the ferocious heat

The Serpentine Swimmers Club members take a break from swimming in central London today

A level three warning is expected to be issued tomorrow, urging medical and social services staff to take extra precautions to protect the health of their charges Brisk: A man enters the Serpentine in Hyde Park. Britons have flocked to pools, lakes and beaches across the nation to escape the oppressive heat White heat: A woman basks in the 30C heat in Kensington Gardens, central London

The Hanging Gardens of Derby: Fred Whaley, 69, is on extra watering duties to keep more than one thousand plants in full bloom at his home in the heatwave

Chillaxing: Ulu the Lar Gibbon enjoys in the sun at Drusillas Park, an East Sussex zoo

Ra-cool: A racoon enjoys a giant ice lolly thanks to zoo staff at Drusillas Park

Sun-worshipper: Lemurs (left) relaxing in the heat at the East Sussex zoo today. Georgina the baby hippopotamus with her mother Flora at Whipsnade Zoo (right)



Spa treatment: Georgina the baby hippopotamus cools off with a dip at Whipsnade Zoo

Beached: Four grey seals bask in the hot weather on a sand bank at Southend-on-Sea in Essex

Any shade will do: Beulagh speckled faced ewes seek any refuge that they can find from the sun in the Cambrian Mountains, Powys

Dust: It may look like the shore of a river in baking hot Nevada, U.S, but it is actually Swinsty Reservoir in North Yorkshire

Wilting: This picture shows a dried-out log and parched grass at Lindley Wood Reservoir in North Yorkshire

Baking hot: Dried out flotsam (left) at Swinsty Reservoir in North Yorkshire. The sweltering heat didn't stop these two people (right) enjoying a picnic there though



This sceptered isle: A beautiful ruined church in Yorkshire Wolds, East Yorkshire

This earth, this realm: The Yorkshire Wolds could be recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This England: East Riding of Yorkshire Council has asked Natural England to begin the process of the Wolds becoming an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Dr Angie Bone, Heatwave Plan lead for PHE, said: 'While many people enjoy hot weather, high temperatures can be dangerous, especially for people who may be particularly vulnerable such as older people, young children and those with serious illnesses.

'The Heatwave Plan is an important component of overall emergency planning and sets out a series of clear actions that can be taken by healthcare organisations, local authorities, professionals working with vulnerable people, and individuals to help keep people safe during extreme heat.

'To prepare for any type of hot weather this summer, we strongly encourage each locality to consider the actions in this plan and adapt them to their local situation, as a component of wider resilience planning and long-term climate change adaptation arrangements.'

Doused: Sandra Findley from Orpington in south east London cools herself down in the town's Priory Gardens

Bask: Two women soak up the rays at Swanley Park in Swanley, Kent

It may look like the coast of a resort in the Mediterranean, but this two masted sailing boat was pictured leaving Falmouth Harbour in Cornwall today

Even as late as 7pm tomorrow, the temperatures will hit highs of 30C in the UK. A man (right) enjoys an early morning fishing session today Sailing away: Pleasure boats at Studland Bay, Dorset, today

Dive: Two young men take a plunge into the water on Southsea Beach in Hampshire

Splashdown: The men hit the surface in an explosion of water

A pair of fathers were condemned yesterday for pushing children in buggies across a dangerous waterfall - instead of using a bridge right above them.



The foolish fathers risked the toddlers' lives as they wheeled the pushchairs across the slippery waterfall above churning white water.



Wearing shorts and one bare-chested, the men tried to cool down by pushing their toddlers in buggies through the River Taff. And they were watched by eye-witnesses standing safely above them on a bridge over the river in Cardiff, South Wales.



Passer-by Tom Leyshon, 36, who was playing football with his two children next to the river, said: 'It was crazy - these guys are unbelievably stupid. '



He added: 'I was having a kickabout with my boys when I saw these two men march their pushchairs over the weir.



'They were both carrying toddlers - you couldn't be more reckless with your child's life if you tried. The bridge was right above them. If anything was to happen to their children how would they live with themselves.



'The waters might look low at the moment but you never know what is there - and it is very slippery.'



People enjoy the glorious summer sunshine in beautiful Cambridge today, as they punt down the River Cam under the famous Bridge of Sighs Visitors from all over the UK flock to Cambridge in the hot weather, keen to enjoy the sights of the beautiful city in the sun Messing about in boats: A man punts along as diners watch the river traffic as they enjoy lunch by the River Cam Gridlock: The people who took to the river had to be careful to avoid other boats on the busy waterway Although most are enjoying Britain's best summer in years, the heat can have devastating health effects if precautions are not taken - even for healthy people As the world goes by: A man relaxes in a park in Cambridge as people go about their business

Sea of purple: Sun-lover Sally Young in a field of vibrant delphiniums in Wick, Worcestershire

Contrast: The flower petals will be harvested over the next few weeks, then dried so they can be thrown at weddings

Symphony of colour: The flowers have to be picked at exactly the right time, usually in the late afternoon when the dew has dried

Corridors of flower: Anya Harris, 2, is towered over by the delphiniums. Farmer Charles Hudson started the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company after finding some soggy paper confetti lying on the grass outside his local church



Hot spot: Chiara Silva, 16, from London enjoys the view and the hot weather at Whipsnade Zoo Scenic: Teenager Chiara Silva captures the panoramic views at Whipsnade Jumping for joy: Tilly Lucket, 2, from Northampton runs up a hillside at Whipsnade Zoo

Baby hedgehogs at Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital are experiencing a difficult start to their lives as a result of sun stroke and dehydration. Jeanette Richards (left), a keeper and a trustee of the hospital, nurses one of her tiny charges back to health



Spike in illnesses: One of the reasons behind the rise in cases is that baby hedgehogs will venture out of the nest in search of food if their mother dies

Meanwhile, a hedgehog hospital is running out of beds after admitting hundreds of ill babies suffering from sunstroke.

The tiny hedgehogs are being brought in by concerned gardeners suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration and infested with maggots.



Shepreth Wildlife Park in Royston, Hertfordshire is taking in around 20 youngsters every day - some as small as a 50 pence piece and weighing just 20 grams.

Curator Rebecca Wilers said: 'If their mother gets killed in a road accident after a day or two the baby hedgehogs will venture out of the nest in search of food



'We are commonly finding babies out on lawns in the midday heat. They are then susceptible to maggots and flies as well as heat exhaustion and dehydration.'



The huge demand is draining the hospital's £1,500 monthly running costs and organisers are appealing for donations.