UK weather news – live: Heatwave fires ‘like the Blitz’ as dozens of homes destroyed
Around 19 houses were destroyed after fires tore through rows of houses in Wennington
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Your support makes all the difference.The scene at a smouldering village on the outskirts of London, which saw some of yesterday’s most devastating fires, has been described by a resident as being “like the Blitz”.
Around 19 houses were destroyed after fires first seen in back gardens rapidly tore through rows of houses in Wennington.
Resident Tim Stock, who lost his family home of 60 years in the blaze, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “It was like a warzone. Down the actual main road, all the windows had exploded out, all the rooves had caved, it was like a scene from the Blitz really.”
It comes as some 41 properties including homes and warehouses have been destroyed in the capital as Tuesday’s heatwave saw the busiest day for London’s Fire Brigade (LFB) since the Second World War, according to Sadiq Khan.
Operating in 40C heat on Tuesday, firefighters took an estimated 2,600 emergency calls and responded to over 1,000 fire calls, the London mayor told Sky News.
Of the 16 firefighters who suffered “heat-related injuries”, two were hospitalised, LFB assistant commissioner Jonathan Smith said. Both have since been released.
Good afternoon.
We are pausing our live heatwave updates for today. Thank you for joining us.
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A spokesman said: “Due to the extreme heat causing multiple incidents across the network all Avanti West Coast services have now been withdrawn for the rest of today, Tuesday July 19.”
Customers with tickets for Tuesday can use them on Wednesday or Thursday, or claim a refund.
PA
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Around 60 crew members were at the scene on Tuesday afternoon.
Zoe Tidman has the latest on this breaking story.
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Drone photos show huge fire at Welsh beach
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Drone footage showed flames and smoke billowing from a hill above Newgale beach in Pembrokeshire, where blazes broke out on both Sunday and Monday.
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Andy Gregory reports.
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Breaking: 40.3C record temperature in Coningsby
The Met Office have recorded another record temperature of 40.3C in Coningsby, a slight increase on the previous record set in Heathrow today.
Full story: Temperature reachs 40.3C in Lincolnshire
Temperature records were broken three times in one day in the UK on Tuesday, after temperatures hit 40.3C at Coningsby, surpassing two other records set just hours earlier.
The Met Office said a provisional temperature of 39.1C had been recorded in Charlwood, Surrey, at 10.40 am on Tuesday only for that record to be broken soon after.
London Heathrow reported a temperature of 40.2C at 12.50pm, followed by 40.3C at Coningsby at 4pm.
The highs exceeded the previous UK record of 38.7 in Cambridge in 2019.
UK temperature tops 40C for first time ever breaking record three times in one day
Coningsby reported a temperature of 40.3C at 4pm
At least 29 places in England break all time temperature records
At least 29 observation sites across England have provisionally broken the previous all time maximum UK record of 38.7 °C this afternoon, the Met Office have reported.
Temperature records were broken three times in one day in the UK on Tuesday, after temperatures hit 40.3C at Coningsby in Lincolnshire.
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