But the heat sparked high ozone readings from London to Cardiff. Doctors warned asthma sufferers to stay indoors and seek medical help if they suffered extreme symptoms.
Ozone is particularly dangerous because it can trigger asthma attacks.
We are advising sufferers to check their equipment, stay inside, seek advice from their GPs and seek medical help if they experience an extreme attack. Doctors also warned sunbathers to limit their exposure to the sun's rays and to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. The Health and Safety Executive also called on employers to bring in air conditioning for those who have to work over the weekend to help them cope with the heat. But the lure of the sun was already proving too much for many drivers who headed straight to the beach determined to make the most of the weather. Roads out of the major conurbations and towards the coast were generally busy with severe problems in the south west.