Britain's record-breaking heatwave shows no signs of abating, with temperatures set to surge again over the next few days. According to the Met Office, the UK has now broken its previous record for consecutive days above 30C, with the tally standing at an unprecedented 35 days. The Government will meet in emergency Cobra talks on Wednesday, chaired by Labour leader Andy Burnham, to discuss the crisis.

Extreme heat declared a national emergency

As the country swelters, Environment Secretary George Eustice warned that the UK was facing a 'national emergency' due to the risk of wildfires. 'We are in the grip of a severe heatwave, with temperatures forecast to reach 37C in some areas,' he said. 'We urge everyone to take precautions to stay safe.'

Water shortages and drought

With the hot weather showing no signs of easing, water shortages and drought are becoming increasingly severe. Southern Water has pushed for a rare drought order, which would ban the filling of non-domestic swimming pools. 'We are doing everything we can to reduce water usage, but we need to act now to prevent a crisis,' said a spokesperson.

What comes next?

The Government's Cobra meeting will aim to coordinate a national response to the crisis, including measures to reduce water usage and prevent wildfires. As the heat continues to build, the UK is bracing itself for a long and challenging summer. Overnight, the Met Office issued a new heatwave warning, which remains in place until the weekend. With temperatures set to soar again on Thursday, the public is being urged to take precautions to stay safe. On Tuesday, the Environment Agency warned that the drought was worsening, with many rivers and lakes drying up at an alarming rate. 'This is a critical moment for the UK's environment,' said Andy Burnham. 'We need to act now to prevent a disaster.'