Image copyright Getty Images

Demand for advice on signs of heat exhaustion and preventing heatstroke more than doubled during this summer's UK heatwave, according to NHS figures.

There were 1.5 million visits to the heat-related advice pages of the NHS.uk website between June and August 2018 - twice as many as the previous summer.

Demand peaked in July for advice on health problems caused by the unusually high temperatures.

These included heat rash, heatstroke and hay fever.

The figures, from NHS Digital, show that during June and July, when temperatures regularly topped 30C, visits to these online advice pages soared.

Image copyright EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

NHS Digital said the increase was not related to any changes in the total number of visits to NHS.uk, which had remained stable.

Calls to the NHS 111 helpline about insect bites also almost doubled during the summer heatwave.

Soaring temperatures meant regular health warnings were issued with advice on: