The UK’s blistering heatwave “melted roads like chocolate” on Tuesday and warped railway tracks, triggering transport delays across the country.
As temperatures soared to 30C, Public Health England extended its heat-health warning until Friday and urged the public to avoid drinking excessive alcohol in the sweltering conditions.
Meteorologists have warned the mercury could reach 33C over the coming days, overtaking temperatures in popular holiday destinations in Marbella, Mykonos and Tenerife.
Thunderstorms are also set to hit the UK bringing up to 60mm of rain in a single hour along with intense lightning and showers of hail, the Met Office has said.
In Somerset, council workers rushed to repair three main roads which were “melting like chocolate” after the dark asphalt surfacing rose to 50C and congealed in the scorching heat.
Further north in Gloucestershire tonnes of grit were poured over melted tar on sections of the A38 to solidify it and reattach to surfaces.
The heatwave also caused havoc on train services with Network Rail forced to delay four of its services serving Manchester Piccadilly after the hot weather caused a section of a track to bend with cargo trains diverted onto passenger lines.
