Heatwave health alert as temperatures set to soar in the Anglia region
Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Natalie Gray
The Met Office has issued a heat health alert for the Anglia region as summer temperatures are set to climb into the mid 30s Celsius.
The heat could cause problems for older and younger people and those with underlying health conditions.
The fine weather could mean a welcome boost for the tourist and leisure trade across the Eastern Counties which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The hottest weather is expected to last from Thursday afternoon into the early part of next week with the potential for the temperature to exceed 36°C (97°F).
The RNLI has urged families heading to the beach this week to be aware of potential dangers.
Last week on Friday 31 July, the UK recorded the hottest day of the year and the third warmest on record, with the mercury rising to 37.8°C (100°F) at Heathrow Airport. The temperature in the Anglia region reached 36.1°C at Pitsford near Northampton.
The Coastguard reported its busiest day for more than four years as it dealt with more than 300 incidents last Friday.
By 1pm on Thursday, the temperature on the Norfolk coast at Weybourne had reached 27°C (81°F). It later peaked in the Anglia region in Writtle, Essex at 28.4°C (83.1°F) in across the UK at Wisley in Surrey at 30.1°C (86.2°F).
For many in the tourist industry it is a fine balancing act as they need visitors to support business but there are fears that crowds could cause congestion and if social distancing isn't maintained properly, there could be an increase in coronavirus infections.
One coastal car park in Wells-Next-The-Sea in Norfolk has long queues of people waiting to pay for up to an hour.
Southwold, the popular seaside resort on the Suffolk coast, is now trying to encourage holidaymakers back to the area after actively telling them to stay away at Easter at the peak of the pandemic.
Southwold town councillor, David Beavan said: "People need to come with a little bit of patience and a lot of money.
"The great British public have a lot of common sense - we rely on that."
For many people, the hot weather is an incentive to get out and about.
But for some, including the vulnerable and elderly, excessive heat can be tough to deal with and in some cases even dangerous.
Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions.
Close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather and slow down when it is hot.
Heatwave: 10 top tips on how to cope in the hot weather
Watch a report by ITV News Anglia's Matthew Hudson who been speaking to some of those affected by the heat and getting advice on how to cope
Ahead of this week's sunny spell, Gareth Morrison, RNLI head of water safety, said: "Our coastline is a fantastic place to spend time together as a family, especially when the sun is out and it's hot.
"But there are also plenty of potential dangers, especially for those who aren't fully aware of their surroundings and may be visiting a particular beach for the first time."
A spokesman for the Met Office said there was a "low chance" that last week's record temperature would be beaten again but that large parts of the country would see "four or even five consecutive days of incredibly warm temperatures".
"It is the result of southerly winds moving from Europe and parts of northern Africa, which will push the temperatures up," he said.
He added: "It's pretty unusual to get two successive events like this within a week of each other with such high temperatures."
Read more: It may have been the third hottest day on record but July was the coldest for eight years
Maximum temperatures in the Anglia region on Thursday 6 August 2020
28.4°C in Writtle, Essex
27.8°C in Cavendish, Suffolk
27.6°C in Weybourne, Norfolk
27.5°C in Andrewsfield near Braintree, Essex
27.5°C in Cambridge
27.2°C in Holbeach, Lincolnshire
27.1°C in Santon Downham, Suffolk
26.9°C in Harpenden, Hertfordshire
26.8°C in Cromer, Norfolk
26.5°C in Woburn, Bedfordshire