HUNDREDS of baby hedgehogs are dying of thirst in the endless 30C heatwave, experts warned today.

Gardeners are urged to help save them by leaving out saucers of water to drink after weeks with barely any rain.

3 Baby hedgehogs are dying of thirst in the heatwave Credit: Getty

The Hedgehog Bottom sanctuary in Thatcham, Berks, said it has been inundated with dehydrated "hoglets" and warned many more babies could be dying without help.

Founder Gillian Lucraft said she is working round the clock caring for dozens of newborns brought to her by concerned members of the public.

She hand-feeds the babies every two hours for up to three weeks until they develop teeth and can be set free in the wild.

Youngsters are particularly vulnerable in the dry conditions, which it is feared could be devastating for the already declining British hedgehog population.

3 Gardeners should leave out saucers of water for the animals to drink Credit: Getty

Some homeowners have reportedly found hedgehogs struggling in ponds and swimming pools after apparently falling in while trying to drink.

Gillian said: "We are getting baby hedgehogs handed in during the last week or so that are dehydrated because there's no water for them.

"We've had 27 handed in over three days and that's just what we know about.

"There will be others that are dying of thirst.

"People need to put out dishes of water that are shallow enough to drink from without them falling in and drowning."

3 More hot weather is on the way with only brief downpours

Gardeners should also be careful when trimming bushes or burning rubbish so they don't disturb hedgehog nests, she added.

The UK population of hedgehogs are thought to have plummeted below a million, 30 per cent down since 2002. In the 1950 there were more than 30million.

BBC Springwatch host Chris Packham has warned the species could be extinct in Britain by the time today's children have families of their own.

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Britain's heatwave continues with temperatures up to 30C forecast again today, tomorrow and Saturday, interrupted only by brief thunderstorms.

It is the longest spell of hot weather for 42 years, with 11 days in a row of high temperatures so far.

Water companies have begged the public to limit their use as parched reservoirs run dry.

The heatwave has also brought a plague of blood-sucking horseflies.

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