Temperatures soar as East swelters in hottest day ever

Crowds flocked to Southwold beach in Suffolk. Credit: ITV News Anglia

  • Click below to watch a video report by ITV News Anglia's Russell Hookey.

Temperatures have hit over 38°C in parts of the East after atropical night, as the region experiences record-breaking heat.

A new record temperature has already been set for the East after the mercury reached 38.1°C in Cambridge- making it the hottest place in the country. The Met Office said it was only the second time temperatures over 100 Fahrenheit have been recorded in the UK. The previous record for the East stood at 37.5°C back in 2003.

The heat has been driven by hot air funnelled from the south as western Europe is gripped by an extreme heatwave.

Cooling off in the North Sea Credit: ITV News Anglia

Maximum temperatures in the Anglia region on Thursday 25 July 2019

  • 38.1°C in Cambridge

  • 37.7°C in Writtle, Essex

  • 37.5°C in Thurleigh, Bedfordshire

  • 37.1°C in Woburn, Bedfordshire

  • 36.7°C in Wittering, Cambridgeshire

  • 36.6°C in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

  • 36.5°C in Marham, Norfolk

  • 36.1°C in Holbeach, Lincolnshire

  • 36.1°C in Stowe, Buckinghamshire

  • 36.0°C in Cavendish, Suffolk

  • 35.7°C in Andrewsfield, Essex

  • 35.2°C at Houghton Hall, Norfolk

  • 35.1°C in Tibenham, Norfolk

  • 34.4°C in Wattisham, Suffolk

  • 34.3°C in Weybourne, Norfolk

  • 33.0°C in Cromer, Norfolk

  • 32.8°C in Charsfield, Suffolk

  • 31.8°C in Shoeburyness, Essex

Cambridge is so far the hottest part of the Anglia region. Credit: PA
Punters on the River Cam were using umbrellas to shelter from the sun. Credit: PA

Sweltering temperatures could spark thundery downpours, with a yellow warning for thunderstorms issued for most of England from Thursday afternoon until 4am on Friday.

Staff at Norwich train station giving out free bottles of water. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Some areas experienced a "tropical night" on Wednesday night, with thetemperatures staying above 20°C in spots such as Wattisham in Suffolk, and Cromer in Norfolk.

Health officials have warned people to take care of the vunerable- like the elderly. Credit: ITV News Anglia

People are being urged to take precautions against the heat, including staying hydrated, avoiding exercise and wearing loose, light clothing.

Staff are spending the day trying to keep the animals cool in the sun. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Meanwhile staff at Shepreth Wildlife park near Royston have been cooling down the animals with a refreshing shower.

Someone's enjoying the chance to cool down! Credit: ITV News Anglia

Despite the record breaking heat Ipswich Town's annual open day carried on despite the sticky conditions.

By 11am on Thursday morning these were the hottest temperatures in the East.

  • Cambridge has recorded top temperatures of 34.5°C

  • Woburn in Bedfordshire 34.3°C

  • Santon Downham in Suffolk 33.5°C

  • Marham in Norfolk 33.4°C

  • Writtle in Essex 33.4°C

Fans still poured into the club to see the players. Credit: ITV News Anglia