Extreme heat LIVE as rare red health and weather alerts issued across England ahead of 40C heatwave

Rod Dennis, road safety spokesperson at RAC, has urged drivers to take the red extreme heat warnings seriously this week as he warned that there could be a record number of breakdowns this week.

He said: “Drivers whose vehicles don’t have effective air conditioning should strongly consider postponing any non-essential car journeys until the Met Office’s weather warnings are lifted and temperatures drop.

“If this isn’t possible, our best advice is to travel during cooler times of day. This is especially important for anyone travelling with vulnerable people, including young children and older adults, who are at greater risk from the intense heat. We’d also remind motorists never to leave pets inside a hot vehicle, as doing so can quickly become fatal.”

He added that the RAC expects breakdown volumes on Monday to be 20% higher than what’s normal for a Monday in late June and advised drivers to pack an emergency breakdown kit.

He said: “This week could end up being a record-breaking one for June – not just because of the heat, but also for the number of drivers breaking down. The heatwave will affect services right across the UK and while all patrols will be working incredibly hard to assist drivers, longer waits are more likely.”

Mr Dennis also said drivers can reduce the risk of breakdowns with a few basic checks, including making sure oil levels are sufficient while coolant levels sit between the “min” and “max” markers.