Hottest day in region recorded as temperatures hit 34.5C

• Report by Matthew Taylor

Today is the hottest day the region has ever recorded with temperatures in Carlisle climbing over 34.5 degrees this lunchtime.

Eskdalemuir saw temperatures reaching 31.6C. The Scottish record is 32.9C, but it's likely that that has been broken in parts of the Borders.

Amid the scorching fire broke out in a field between Kelso and Wooler, and could be seen burning from the road. Flames and thick smoke covered large areas close to the hamlet of Lempitlaw, around five miles east of Kelso.

Rail companies urged passengers to avoid all but essential travel this morning, and by mid afternoon all Avanti West Coast Services had been halted due to the heat.

Meanwhile the NHS says hospital services in Cumbria are stretched but staff are so far dealing with the demand.

Emergency services and health organisations in the region have issued a series of safety warnings as record temperatures are being recorded.

The NHS is urging people to stay hydrated and limit the amount of time they spend in the sun to avoid heat exhaustion.

The signs of heat exhaustion include:

• a headache

• dizziness and confusion

• loss of appetite and feeling sick

• excessive sweating and pale, clammy skin

• cramps in the arms, legs and stomach

• fast breathing or pulse

• a high temperature of 38C or above

• being very thirsty

Public health teams say looking out for vulnerable people is vital too.

Dr Tim Patterson, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders said: “It’s important to take some time to think about what you can do to protect yourself, your family and friends during the hot weather.

"For some, including older people, those with underlying health conditions and young children, the summer heat can bring real health risks. That’s why we’d like everyone to look out for those who may be at risk this summer and where possible ask if your friends, family or neighbours need any support."

Meanwhile with many people expected to head to the region's lakes, rivers and coastline to cool off, firefighters have are warning about the dangers of swimming and jumping into open water.

Angela Opie from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said:

"We want people to enjoy spending time in and around water safely. In Cumbria, we carried out more than 200 water rescues between 2015 and 2020, which sadly included eight fatalities. And in 2021 alone, there were three water-related fatalities in Cumbria.

"This is because they were unaware of the risks and unprepared for the scenario of ending up in the water. By highlighting this issue and making sure simple safety messages reach our communities, we hope to reduce the number of these preventable deaths."

Fire service water safety advice includes:

• If you are spending time near water, make sure you know what to do if you happened to fall in. Remember Float to Live. The advice is not to panic, float on your back and then either call for help or swim to safety.

• If you've consumed alcohol, do not enter the water, and avoid walking on routes near water.

• Never enter the water to try and help a person or animal - always call 999 and use any water rescue equipment if it is available.

• If you are spending time near water whether at home or abroad, make sure you are familiar with local safety information and that children are always fully and actively supervised.