Heatwave end in sight but disruption continues

The end of the heatwave is in sight after June's temperature record was broken before overnight thunderstorms.

The UK's provisional highest temperature for June of 36.7°C was recorded at Merryfield near Ilminster, Somerset on Thursday, with a red heat alert in place across the West.

One person was taken to hospital after a lightning strike caused a fire at a nursing home in Glastonbury, as lightning was seen elsewhere across Bristol, Somerset and Wiltshire overnight.

After exceptionally high pressure on the NHS, hundreds of school closures and continued disruption to public transport, temperatures will slowly ease over the weekend.

An amber Met Office heat warning remains in place on Friday, as temperatures are expected to peak in the high 20s before falling to the low 20s by Sunday morning when the amber warning runs out.

For now, disruption continues as train services across the West have been cancelled, with Great Western Railway advising passengers to only travel if essential.

Some schools have reopened after most were closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

The cells at Bristol Crown Court have been closed due to the heat, with defendants moved to Bristol Magistrates' Court where it is thought to be cooler.

Stonehenge in Wiltshire will close early at 15:00 BST, for the second day running.

The NHS has reported extreme pressure on services during the heatwave.

Dr Sam Patel, the medical director at Southmead Hospital, told BBC Radio Bristol: "The level of pressure has been really high, our admissions were amongst the highest we've seen in a very long time."

He said the hospital was seeing more older people, children and those with chronic health conditions seek treatment during the heatwave.

"This is the second heatwave in four weeks and that cumulative effect takes its toll," he said.

The NHS trust that runs Great Western Hospital in Swindon said "exceptionally high numbers of patients" had attended A&E this week, including people medically unwell due to the heat and other elderly and vulnerable people.

This comes after South West Ambulance Service received a record 3,941 calls across the region on Wednesday, which the trust described as unprecedented and unsustainable.

After an uncomfortable night where temperatures did not dip below the low 20s combined with very high humidity, the heat will slow ease over the next few days.

Friday will still be very warm for the time of year with temperatures up in the very high 20s or low 30s and high humidity.

It is going to become gradually more comfortable over the weekend as temperatures fall and humidity lessens as well, but it is unlikely to be noticeable until Sunday, when temperatures in the low to mid 20s are forecast.

Next week looks largely dry and settled but much more comfortable, with temperatures in the low 20s.

The so-called heat dome sat across Europe which brought the record-breaking heat is slowly shifting its way eastwards over the coming days, so the most intense heat will likely move towards Germany and other eastern European countries.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.