London's burning: Fire engulfs homes as UK temperatures hit record 40C

UK hits record 40C at Heathrow Airport; train routes cancelled due to the heat; heatwave prompts focus on climate change promises

Britain recorded its highest ever temperature of 40C (104F) on Tuesday as a heatwave gripping Europe intensified, forcing train tracks to buckle and fuelling a spate of fires across London.

The Met Office said a new provisional record temperature of 40.3C (104.5F) was recorded in Coningsby, in central England, with 29 sites across the country experiencing temperatures in excess of the previous high of 38.7C (101.7F) recorded in 2019.

Stephen Belcher at the Met Office said he had not expected to see such temperatures in Britain in his career.
 

"Research conducted here at the Met Office has demonstrated that it's virtually impossible