Police urge people not to call them about hosepipe rulebreakers as third heatwave of summer set to peak at 34C

Temperatures reached 34.7C on Friday as Britons brace for possibility of even hotter weather on Saturday, with amber heat health alerts in place warning of potential rise in deaths

Police have asked the public not to contact them about incidents of people breaking the hosepipe ban ahead of what is expected to be the hottest weekend of the year with highs of 34C forecast.

Temperatures reached 33C at Ross on Wye in Herefordshire on Saturday, the Met Office said, with the hot weather continuing into Sunday. Scotland recorded its warmest day in more than two years on Saturday as the mercury hit 32C in Aviemore.

Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

Hosepipe bans have also been introduced across parts of England, with swathes of the country suffering drought conditions and water shortages after the driest spring since 1893.

However, Chief Superintendent Tracy Bradley, from Humberside Police, has urged people not to reach out to police about those flouting the bans but to contact Yorkshire Water instead.

People enjoy the warm weather on Sunny Sands beach in Folkestone, Kent, as the third heatwave of the summer hits the UK and temperatures are expected to remain high into the weekend (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

She explained to the BBC that calls “could divert call handlers away from dealing with emergencies or other policing matters”.

Nearly 7 million Britons, more than 10 per cent of England’s population, are facing restrictions on how they can use their water, with those who ignore the bans threatened with fines of up to £1,000.

Yorkshire Water brought in restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools on Friday, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of yet more dry weather forecast for the coming weeks.

South East Water said demand for drinking water had reached “record levels since May”, adding: “This situation has left us with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers, so we can help our reservoirs and underground water storage recover.”

It means customers in Kent and Sussex are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pools or ponds or clean paths, walls or windows.

On Saturday, the Met Office said Aviemore hit 32.2C, adding that Scotland last exceeded 30C on 13 June 2023, and that Saturday is only the seventh time since at least 1961 that the same high has been recorded in the country.

Temperatures in Wales hiked to 33.1C in Cardiff’s Bute Park, beating the 2025 record set on Friday of 32.4C at the same location.

Although England was also hot, with maximum temperatures also hitting 33.1C in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire, it did not break the country’s current record for the year of 35.8C – recorded in Kent at the beginning of July.

Hosepipe bans have been introduced across parts of England (PA Wire)

The Met Office said that it will remain “very warm” across the country on Sunday.

Meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said: “While we’ve seen the peak of the heat in this heatwave through today [Saturday] it’s still going to be very warm on Sunday before turning cooler for many of us on Monday.

“So we’ve got this ridge of high pressure extending across the UK, helping to keep things settled, but out towards the west an area of low pressure moving through Sunday night and into Monday.

“So if you’re not a fan of the heat, temperatures will be falling away but also bringing some heavy spells of rain, or welcome rainfall, for many of us.”

As well as the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber.

The Met Office said that temperatures may peak on Saturday (Met Office)

Fire chiefs have urged people to stay safe as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times.

NFCC chair Phil Garrigan said: “We are urging people to take simple but vital safety precautions to protect themselves and their loved ones during this period of hot, dry weather. Our experience tells us that wildfires can start in an instant and escalate rapidly. That’s why we’re asking everyone to stay alert and act responsibly.”

HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings occurred in July over the last three years.

Fire chiefs have urged people to stay safe as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave (PA Media)

The London Fire Brigade said it has responded to 24 wildfires this year, five of which occurred this week, including one in Manor Park, east London, on Friday afternoon, where 70 firefighters fought to tackle a grass fire on Wanstead Flats.

The risk of wildfires in London is currently rated at “severe” by the Natural Hazards Partnership.

National Rail has warned train passengers that the hot weather may cause disruption this weekend. “Heat can cause overhead lines to expand and sag, rails to buckle, and also line-side fires,” it said on its website.

Meanwhile, the RNLI warned beachgoers that, despite the heat, there is still a risk of cold water shock.

Ross Macleod, the charity’s water safety manager, said: “Even in hot weather, the seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users.”

He added: “We encourage people to choose a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags, which is the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards.”