UK weather: Heatwave to continue for another two weeks

People in boats in Regent's park, London, as much of the UK continues to enjoy a spell of hot weather Image copyright PA

Britain is set to swelter for another two weeks, forecasters say, as water companies urge customers to use less water.

The Met Office said temperatures will stay high across most of the UK over the next fortnight.

People are being told to conserve water and a hosepipe ban remains in place in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, figures show last month was the driest June on record in south-east and central southern England.

Scotland also had its highest temperature ever recorded, with 33.2C reached on 28 June in Motherwell, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.

High pressure will continue across much of Britain throughout the next two weeks, "bringing plenty more very warm sunshine".

Mark Wilson, from the Met Office, said: "There's always the risk of a couple of showers, but most places will be dry, sunny and hot.

"There may be some cloud for the far north and northwest of the UK into next week, that's the exception to the rule.

"The emphasis is there will be a lot of warmer weather about."

He said temperatures could drop slightly on Tuesday and Wednesday, but will rise again - with some areas forecast to see the mercury top 30C.

Image copyright PA/Pauline McGinley Gilgallon on Twitter
Image caption Sun lovers enjoy the weather on Portobello beach in Edinburgh
Image copyright PA
Image caption London's parks and public spaces were packed as workers soaked up the sun

It comes after a week of hot temperatures across the UK, with the record for the hottest day of the year being set on four consecutive days.

All four UK nations reached 30C for the first time in five years.

But the UK still has a way to beat the record of the 1976 heatwave, which saw temperatures of 32C and over for 15 consecutive days.

'Use water wisely'

Southern Water, which supplies water to parts of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said it was asking customers to help "keep taps flowing across our region".

It said it had boosted its supply this week by an extra 87 million litres of water a day compared with a week ago.

"We are not in drought restrictions but we are asking customers to use water wisely in the garden and avoid washing cars and windows until it begins to cool down."

United Utilities, which operates in the north-west of England, said it has seen a "massive increase in water consumption across our area" and it was "struggling to get enough water around the system quick enough".

"Yesterday an additional half a billion litres was used and it has been the same today," the company said on Friday.

"We urgently need your help and support to avoid a hosepipe ban. You can help us by turning off your garden sprinklers, not using your hosepipes, not washing your car and taking shorter showers and not baths this weekend."

Severn Trent said it was pumping millions of extra litres into the network and asked people to avoid using the garden sprinkler or hose pipe.

Northern Ireland saw its first hosepipe ban in 23 years on Friday evening, imposed by NI Water.

Gardeners face fines of up to £1,000 if caught using a hosepipe, but the use of watering cans is still allowed.