Fires still burning across UK after temperatures hit 40C on hottest ever day

Major incidents were announced by fire brigades in London, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire as dozens of fires broke out amid the sweltering heat – with flames ripping through houses, schools and churches.

A woman is given water and comforted close to the blaze in the village of Wennington, east London, where 100 firefighters are tackling a fire. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Fires are continuing to ravage through houses and buildings across the UK after temperatures topped 40C in the UK for the first time ever.

A new record for the hottest day ever seen, of 40.3C, was recorded in Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, on Tuesday afternoon – beating the previous record of 38.7C in Cambridge three years ago, by 1.6C.