A temperature of 38.7C was recorded on Thursday, which – if confirmed – would be a new all-time high for the UK.

Climate experts have warned the UK will suffer heatwaves like this week’s more regularly in future – with 40C becoming the “new normal”.

They blame the continuing rise in emissions of damaging greenhouse gases for the climate emergency, which is leading to more frequent extreme weather spells.

The Met Office announced the 38.7C figure was received from Cambridge Botanic Garden yesterday.

If validated, it will become the highest temperature officially recorded in the UK, outstripping the 38.5C seen in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.

UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Show all 44 1 /44 UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Bournemouth Hundreds of people at the beach in Bournemouth, as the UK could encounter the hottest July day on record PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester Hamza and Haris splash in the water feature beside the National Football Museum PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Derbyshire People play in the water at Hathersage Outdoor Swimming Pool PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Whitley Bay Sunrise at St Mary's Lighthouse PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families fish for crabs from a sea wall Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Surrey People leap from a bridge at Taggs Island, near Hampton Court PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London Ireland's players in a drinks break during the second day of the test match against England at Lord's AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London People sunbathe in Hyde Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Manchester People splash in the fountains in Piccadilly Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate Families make their way to the beach Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Cambridge People use umbrellas to shield from the sun as they punt along on the River Cam PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Brighton People enjoy the hot weather on the beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar London England's Jack Leach cools down with a towel in a drinks break AP UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Margate MARGATE, - JULY 25: Beachgoers enjoy the sunshine on July 25, 2019 in Margate, United Kingdom. The Met Office issued a weather warning from 3pm this afternoon. They warn that Britain could face up to 13 hours of electrical storms after temperatures could reach a record-breaking 39C. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Dan Kitwood Getty Images UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Kadie Lane, 10, cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens. The UK is bracing itself for what could be its hottest ever day after lightning storms triggered fires and rail disruption PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Hampshire Lightening striking as a thunder storm passes over Basingstoke lanttans/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Visitors sit in deckchairs in the sun at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Sisters, Nyam May (left) and Ciara May (right), jump into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar An African white lion sunbathes at West Midlands Safari Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Liverpool Lightening strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Lee Park PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Children sit in the sun by 'The Friendly Giant', a pond sculpture situated in Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Northumberland Reuben Humphreys, 4 , cools off in the fountain at Alnwick Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Lightning strikes as a thunder storm passes over houses in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday July 24, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers shelter under umbrellas on the South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Lincolnshire A thunder storm passes over Holbeach St Marks wiker_1971/PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Swimmers have fun in the sea on a giant inflatable Flamingo, South Beach Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone Sunbathers relax PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar West Yorkshire Yasmin Amindari plays with ball at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Danny Lawson PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Kent Broadstairs beach PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire South Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Dog owners warned about heatstroke American Bulldog Finlay, receiving urgent cooling treatment at PDSA's Pet Hospital, after was left fighting for his life after his body temperature soared to a life-threatening 42.2C (108F) during recent hot weather PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Folkestone A couple, seen through heat haze PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley Freddie Ward jumps into the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido in West Yorkshire as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire North Beach,Tenby Reuters UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A swimmer and paddlers are seen in the sea off South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury People enjoy punting through Westgate Gardens as temperatures rise across the UK this week PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A sunbather lies on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Ilkley People play in the water at Ilkley outdoor pool and lido PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Canterbury Isla Stanton enjoys the sunshine in Westgate Gardens PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire Holidaymakers are seen in the sea on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Oxford A lady takes a photograph in Oxford, as the UK is expected to edge towards its hottest ever July day, with the mercury due to soar above 30C (86F). PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday July 23, 2019. See PA story WEATHER Hot. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire Steve Parsons PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Pembrokeshire A "Keep Calm" towel is pictured on the South Beach,Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales, Britain, July 23, 2019. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden REBECCA NADEN REUTERS UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Warwickshire People enjoy a trip in a boat along the river in Stratford Upon Avon PA UK heatwave rolls in as temperatures soar Stratford Upon Avon People enjoy the sun along the river in Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, as temperatures are expected to rise across the UK this week. Jacob King PA

Until now, the official temperature high on Thursday, the peak of this week’s heatwave, was 38.1C – a new record for July.

Tomasz Schafernaker, a BBC weather forecaster, said such temperatures would normally be found in Spain, the Middle East, California and Australia.

Mark McCarthy, from the National Climate Centre at the Met Office, said: “As the official source of meteorological statistics for the UK, we take the quality of our recordings very seriously.

“We are talking about a potential new record for the highest temperature recorded in the UK and we therefore need to thoroughly investigate the observation with our partners at Cambridge University Botanic Garden through statistical analysis and by visiting, to check the site and equipment and ensure there are no potential problems.

“The Met Office observations team will carefully analyse this figure, along with any other readings submitted over the coming weeks and will keep the public, our partners and government updated.”

Jaise Kuriakose, a lecturer at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research in Manchester, said the speed at which climate change appeared to be happening was worrying.

“Although a record temperature is not surprising for me, I am bit alarmed with how fast we are breaking temperature records across Europe and in Arctic,” he said.

“The predictions of future climate are generally focused on what might be in 2030, 2050 or 2070 time frames. So it gives the impression that there is more time to act.

“Actions for both mitigation and adaptation of climate change needs to happen immediately. We cannot afford any more the business-as-usual approach for managing climate change.”

Karsten Haustein, of the Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, said: “What this short but intense episode has shown is that the potential for 40C is there. While we don’t know when it will happen for the first time, it is very probable that it is eventually going to happen if climate change continues unabated.

“This is weather on steroids.”

Meanwhile, a stage of the Tour de France was cancelled because of snow on the ground – despite most of France being gripped by Europe’s heatwave.

On Thursday Paris experienced its highest ever temperature, of 42.4C, as the heatwave neared its peak, the French state weather service said.

In the UK, Network Rail engineers worked overnight to repair damage at several locations after the temperature of steel tracks soared to up to 20C higher than the air temperature.