The hottest day of the year in the UK was recorded at Kew Gardens today (Thursday, 13 August), the Met Office revealed.

Kew Gardens in Richmond borough has recorded England's highest temperature at 38.1C, making it the fifth hottest day ever recorded.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site surpassed Lingwood, Norfolk, which recorded 38C on 26 June.

The Met Office warns that this summer is on course to be the UK's hottest since records began.

An amber heat health alert, warning of significant impacts on health and social care services, is in place across the whole of England until 9pm on Friday.

The BBC reports that the only time a temperature this high was recorded twice in a calendar year was in 2022.

Charlwood in Surrey and Pershore in Worcestershire both recorded 37.8C on Thursday, while at Wisley temperatures had reached 37.2C, the Met Office said.

Since records began, only four days have been hotter than today in the UK.

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The highest temperature ever recorded was on 19 July 2022, when temperatures at Coningsby, Lincolnshire, reached 40.3C. That marked the first and only day that readings above 40C have been recorded in the UK.

Before that, the record was 38.7C at Cambridge Botanic Gardens on 25 July 2019.

Faversham in Kent reached 38.5C on 10 August 2003, while on 18 July 2022, a temperature of 38.2C was recorded at Pitsford, Northamptonshire.

The heatwaves across England and London have seen water-use restrictions put into place, such as Thames Water's hosepipe ban.