Heatwave alert as parts of UK experience hottest day of 2022 so far

Met Office issues level three warning in London, south-east and east England and Royal Ascot takes unprecedented step of relaxing dress code

• Beat the heat: how to stay cool in hot weather

A level three heatwave alert is in place for south-east England as temperatures passed 32C (89F) in London on the hottest day of the year so far.

There will be high temperatures across most of central and southern England on Friday as hot air spreads from Spain, Portugal and north Africa, while Scotland, Northern Ireland and some of north England will face lower temperatures as a band of rain passes through.