UK ministers hold Cobra meeting as heatwave declared ‘national emergency’

Emergency meeting held on Saturday afternoon as Met Office warns lives are at risk'

An emergency meeting is being held by ministers and officials on Saturday amid soaring temperatures, which experts have warned could put lives at risk.

The high temperatures are expected to peak on Tuesday, with an 80% chance of the mercury topping the UK's record temperature of 38.7C (101.7F) set in Cambridge in 2019, and a 50% chance of temperatures reaching 40C somewhere in the UK.