Michael Race
Business and economics reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, as temperatures have soared, sales of fans and air conditioning units have spiked as people seek to stay cool. A quick online search shows many retailers of portable air con units are out of stock.

Covid-era queues were seen outside some Lidl supermarkets ahead of opening hours on Thursday as shoppers flocked to the middle aisle before they sold out. The retailer Curry's told the BBC that it saw air conditioning sales increase 330% in the space of a week.

Lincoln Smith, managing director of Custom Heat in Warwickshire, says he is planning to change his company name due to a steady rise in his business fitting more air conditioning units in homes over the past five years.

"There is a significant demand coming for home comfort and air conditioning," he tells the BBC's Wake Up To Money, adding that because demand is so high, some of his suppliers are saying they won't be able to get units until after the summer.

"We are having to diversify and use other manufacturers to keep up with demand."

Image source, National Highways

The M5 in Somerset is closed in both directions between J22 and J23 due to a risk that overhead electricity cables could fall into the road.

There are currently delays of 115 minutes, with up to 8 miles of congestion both ways, according to National Highways.

National Grid engineers are carrying out "essential repair work" following the fault in the area between Highbridge and Puriton, and it will "reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so", National Highways reports.

On Wednesday, more than 10 people were taken to hospital for "minor and heat-related conditions" after huge queues of traffic built up on the M25 during the red heat alert following a serious crash between a van and a lorry.

• Stay up-to-date with the M5 closure

As we've just reported, Wattisham, Suffolk has set a new provisional June record temperature of 36.9C.

Here are the highest temperatures recorded in the other UK nations so far today:

Scotland - Eskdalemuir, 28.6C

Wales - Hawarden, 34.0C

Northern Ireland - Katesbridge, 24.1C

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/@DesM

Jacob Phillips
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

The June heat record for the UK keeps getting pushed higher.

For the third day in a row the record has been broken for the hottest June day, and the Met Office has warned that temperatures are still rising.

Here's a reminder of the numbers behind the record-breaking heatwave:

Wednesday 24 June

The 50-year-old record was toppled when it reached 36.1C in Gosport, Hampshire, beating the previous highest temperature of 35.6C recorded in Southampton in 1976 and Camden in 1957.

Thursday 25 June

Temperatures of 36.7C were recorded at Merryfield, Somerset, breaking the previous day's record.

Friday 26 June

Temperatures reached 36.9C in Wattisham, Suffolk, setting another new provisional record.

There will be respite however by Sunday, with the Met Office forecasting that many areas will be at least 10C cooler than today.

Friday is the provisional hottest June day on record as 36.9C is recorded in Wattisham, Suffolk, the Met Office says.

This passes the previous record which was set on Thursday when 36.7C was recorded in Merryfield, Somerset.

Image source, EPA

Various museums and tourist attractions have had to make adjustments to manage the soaring temperatures.

Here's what we've seen so far:

Tower Bridge is closed to visitors. The Cutty Sark and Royal Observatory in Greenwich are also closed. The Victoria and Albert Museum has shut some galleries, and the Young V&A is closed until Sunday. The British Museum has warned it may have to close some galleries.

Marwell Zoo in Hampshire has closed its 140-acre site. Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Legoland Windsor and are allowing people to swap their tickets for a different day.

Plus, some Greggs stores have also closed during the heatwave, with 11 sites shut since Wednesday.

This comes on top of school closures, with more than 600 shutting in England fully or partially today.

Vanessa Clarke
Education reporter

More than 600 schools in England have either closed or partially closed again today.

The Department for Education doesn’t publish a list of schools that have closed during the heatwave, so the figure is only an estimate and is likely to be much higher.

We’ve been looking at individual councils’ websites in areas most affected by the heatwave and counted 677 that have fully or partially closed, or that have offered parents the option to pick their children up early.

Most schools have stayed open, although many academy trusts are reporting lower attendance this week.

Catherine Burns
Health correspondent

A nurse working in a hospital in the Midlands who contacted the BBC through Your Voice says her ward has been transformed into a "wall of heat".

She also describes the ward as "terrible" and "intolerable" but is having to push on through for the patients.

Meanwhile, a midwife tells me there’s no air conditioning in the post natal ward - so mums and new babies are trying to cope with temperatures over 30C (86F).

An A&E doctor also tells me the heating is still on in some parts of their hospital, with no air conditioning and windows that do not open.

They say staff are getting irritable, while patients are in “hot, cramped and chaotic” conditions, and some are becoming abusive.

The hot weather has ushered thunderstorms into the UK, sparking dramatic displays of lightning around the country.

As of 10:00 this morning, more than 63,000 lightning strikes had been recorded in a 24-hour period, the Met Office says.

A second lightning storm in five days was in the west of England, with one strike causing a fire at a nursing home in Glastonbury.

Image source, Matthew Harris

Around 32,000 lightning strikes have been seen in Scotland in the last 24 hours.

The thundery weather came after Scotland recorded its hottest day of the year on Thursday, with temperatures peaking at 31.2C in Threave, Dumfries and Galloway.

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers - Alice E

Similar displays were also seen in the island of Ireland as many watched in awe as almost 9,000 strikes lit up the skies, during a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, one resident said.

A dramatic lightning display lasted more than an hour and was witnessed mostly in Counties Londonderry and nearby Donegal, in the Republic of Ireland.

Image source, Patryk Sadowski

Over in Wales, lightning forked and tore across the sky in Pembrokeshire.

Wales recorded its hottest June day and highest temperature of the year so far on Thursday when 35.9C was recorded in Bute Park, Cardiff.

Image source, Debra Angel

Orange lightning strikes were also seen close to Mont Orgueil Castle in Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Image source, Andrew Battersby

As we've just told you Cavendish in Suffolk was the hottest place in the UK at midday, with a temperature of 35.8C.

Just behind that was Santon Downham, in Suffolk, which recorded 35.2C.

Elsewhere, Kew Gardens in London recorded 34C, as did Cambridge.

London's Heathrow Airport saw temperatures of 33.7C, and Bedford 33C.

Coventry recorded 32.5C and Nottingham 32.2C.

Chris Fawkes
BBC Weather presenter

The hottest place at midday is Cavendish in Suffolk at 35.8C

Some patches of cloud will probably cap the temperatures in south-east England at about 35C this afternoon.

The highest temperatures today look most likely in Norfolk or Suffolk this afternoon with temperatures perhaps going as high as 37C or even 38C.

The chase is on then for beating the all-time June temperature of 36.7C provisionally recorded yesterday at Merryfield, Somerset.

Police searching for a missing boy who was reported to have entered a lake in Leicestershire have recovered a body.

Officers were called to Meynell Lake, just after 13:30 BST on Thursday, after reports that a teenage boy had gone into the water, Leicestershire Police say.

Police divers were called in to assist with the search for the boy, who has not been named, alongside fire and rescue, and ambulance services.

Leicestershire Police said a person recovered from the water is confirmed to be the missing teenager and his family are being supported by specially trained officers. They say "there is no suggestion of any suspicious circumstances".

Image source, Chelsea Claw

If you're just joining us, or want a quick catch-up, here's the latest.

Thunderstorms have hit parts of the UK – with yellow warnings in place for more storms in northern England into the evening, and Scotland into the early hours of tomorrow morning. These alerts come with warnings about potential flash flooding and disruption to transport.

In London and south-east England, a red extreme heat warning is in place until 21:00 BST. We’ve heard warnings that pavements in parts of the capital have seen temperatures hit 57C. This morning, the London Ambulance Service said 999 calls had increased 50% during the heatwave.

The mercury had already hit 30.5C at Heathrow by 09:00 BST.

The hottest temperatures are still yet to come - our weather team expects that we could see 35-37C this afternoon, in East Anglia or south-east England.

Michelle Roberts
Health editor

Image source, Getty Images

After days of record-breaking temperatures around Europe, officials have warned people to adjust their behaviour - even fit, young people - as health services report a sharp rise in life‑threatening emergencies.

In London, the ambulance service faced its busiest day on record this week, with cardiac arrests up nearly a third, and is urging people to drink responsibly and avoid exercise outside.

Parisians, meanwhile, will be restricted from drinking alcohol in public from noon through the night on both Friday and Saturday.

Extreme heat puts immense physical strain on the body - made worse if you are dehydrated from drinking alcohol - with the heart pumping harder and faster to cool you off.

• Read more on this story

Emma Tracey
Disability affairs reporter

When I speak to BBC Sport reporter Sally Hurst, she’s sitting in front of a fan and her voice sounds strained.

Sally is an amputee and is finding the current weather particularly tiring.

That's because above-knee amputees use around 65% more energy to walk than non-disabled people do - but it’s not the only reason she’s struggling in the heat.

Prosthetic limbs trap heat around the socket, causing residual limbs to swell and to excessively sweat.

"I may have to literally pour sweat out of my socket several times a day,” says Sally. “Yes, it’s gross!”

The extra moisture and heat can cause blisters as well. Plus, with fewer limbs, Sally tells me "you have less surface area to get rid of heat through sweating", making it harder to regulate body temperature.

“It’s important to manage your condition as an amputee, because any blisters can take days to heal and make wearing a prosthetic impossible.”

Amputee charity Steel Bones advises the people they support to also look after their prosthetic limbs, including avoiding leaving them in the sun or a hot car as the heat can damage the materials and affect the fit.

Image source, Supplied/Sally Hurst

Sarah Turnnidge
BBC News, West of England

One person has been taken to hospital after a lightning strike caused a fire at a nursing home.

Fire crews were called to reports of a lightning strike and smoke seen coming from the second floor of St Benedict's Nursing Home on Benedict Street, Glastonbury, at 00:41 BST.

Three people were evacuated from the building by crews, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue have said, with one person taken to hospital. A further 25 people were able to remain in the building.

Anna Holligan
Reporting from The Hague

Image source, EPA

Life has slowed on the streets of The Hague. The heat is oppressive; at times almost suffocating.

For the first time, the Netherlands has issued a code red weather warning for extreme heat, in force across most of the country, with temperatures forecast to climb towards 40C (104F).

Many schools have shut their doors, a veterans’ day parade planned for tomorrow has been cancelled, and festivals are either being called off or limiting alcohol sales. Public transport is still running, and drivers are being urged to carry water and parasols and to travel only if they have to.

On the cycle paths, there is at least some sense of escape: bike lanes are packed with families heading for the coast and surfers pedalling with boards tucked under their arms.

Similar emergency measures are being rolled out across much of the continent, as Europe braces for another day of extreme heat.

Victoria Cook
Reporting from London

Image source, Greenpeace / TI Thermal Imaging

Londoners, especially those looking after children and pets, have been urged to be cautious when outside after thermal imaging technology recorded temperatures of 57C (135F) along the city's pavements and playgrounds.

The images, which record surface temperatures rather than air temperatures, were captured by thermal imaging engineers on Wednesday between 14:00 and 17:00 BST, when temperatures in London were around 35C (95F).

Experts speaking to the BBC, including animal welfare organisations, urged people to consider using public spaces at cooler times, or not at all.

City Hall said as part of its Heat Ready London action plan it was committed to increasing urban greening and shade.

Image source, Greenpeace / TI Thermal Imaging

Greenpeace - which commissioned the imaging - said the black rubber floor at a children's playground in Islington, north London, recorded a temperature of 53C (127F) at 17:00, while the tarmac at roadworks in Holborn, central London, registered 65C (149F).

In Piccadilly Circus, ground surfaces were showing as 56C (133F), the environmental campaign group added.

• Read more on this story

Catherine Byaruhanga
Reporting from Hillingdon Lido

Most people dislike busy rush hour mainline train commutes but I have to say that mine into London this morning was a breeze, despite the already warm weather.

There were fewer commuters and some seats were even empty. It’s a Friday when more people usually work from home, so that could have had an impact too.

At London Bridge station there were warning signs about travel during this hot weather, urging people to only travel if "absolutely necessary" to and from areas affected by the red and amber weather warnings.

It certainly felt like people have been heeding that advice. On the underground it felt stuffy, perhaps as it often does, but the experience was much better because there were fewer passengers. We all had much needed room to breathe.

But my team and I, who are reporting on the impact of the extreme heat here in London, are experiencing some travel challenges due to delays on the underground.

My train had to stop earlier than expected due to a "fault", the driver said. Perhaps a sign of the travel disruption that the Met Office has warned about in its red weather warning.

Image source, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service

Firefighters from Derbyshire and Greater Manchester have been battling a large wildfire on Tintwistle Moor since Wednesday.

In an update at 09:00 BST on Friday, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters from both services "are continuing to tackle the fire, which has affected an area of approximately 22 hectares".

The fire service advises people nearby to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area.