Eurotunnel chaos as Britain braces for record hottest day

HUNDREDS of Eurotunnel passengers were left in limbo last night after the cross-channel rail operator cancelled tickets for today as air conditioning units on its trains failed in the heat.

The company said it had taken the “unprecedented decision to cancel day trip/overnight tickets” for travel today as the country prepared itself for the hottest day on record.

Several carriages had to be taken out of service yesterday due to the suffocating heat, leading to chaos where families faced five-and-a-half hour queues.

England became the hottest country in Europe yesterday as temperatures rose to 96F (36C), leading to widespread cancellations of summer outdoor events.

Many were driven to drastic measures – the MCC even broke its strict dress code and said it would allow members to enter the Lord’s pavilion without a jacket for the first time.

A spokesman said: “To our knowledge this is the first time members have been given prior permission not to bring a jacket at all.”

The heatwave, which could break records today if conditions pass 101F (38.5C), has led to fun runs, charity walks, dog shows, concerts and fairs being called off over fears that participants would overheat.

As large numbers of stargazers were expected to gather tonight to view the lunar eclipse, which could make the Moon appear a deep burgundy red from around 9pm, firefighters called for a ban on barbecues in parks in case sparks set light to parched grass. Many dog shows were called off after Dogs Trust warned that animals would suffer if they exerted themselves in the heat, while councils cancelled sports days and the National Trust abandoned some outdoor events.

Gymkhanas and summer horse shows all over Britain were called off because the ground is too hard, leading to fears riders could break bones if they

fell from the saddle. Hospitals were forced to cancel non-urgent operations as A&E departments were flooded with people complaining of respiratory problems and dehydration. Nurses reported feeling exhausted, sick and dizzy as temperatures soared inside buildings.

Britain’s transport infrastructure also struggled to cope in the heat, with train passengers on LNER forced to plug in their own fans after air-conditioning broke. Rail services across the country were cancelled as tracks buckled, leading to speed restrictions.

Temperatures of 98F (37C) were recorded by commuters on the London Underground, and commuters in the capital were also forced to endure high air pollution, leading to the mayor, Sadiq Khan, issuing a major alert.

The RAC said it is expecting breakdowns across the UK to be up around 15-20per cent on what they would normally expect for late July by the end of yesterday.

However, although the hot weather is expected to cost the country in excess of £1billion in lost productivity, Britain’s seaside resorts were experiencing a boom.

Southend-on-sea has experienced the biggest growth, with train bookings to the town for July and August up 210per cent compared to the same period in 2016. Bookings to Margate have increased by 164per cent, St Ives 79per cent and Scarborough 76per cent.

Prof Sam Fankhauser, director at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics, said: “There is no doubt some industries will be hit hard by the heatwave and we usually see productivity drops of around 8per cent when the temperature goes above 86F (30C).

“But it will probably be a boom for people who are selling ice cream or who have outdoor business.”

The heatwave was forecast to end with thunderstorms today with yellow weather warnings issued for the north and east. The Met Office said there were risks of torrential downpours, flooding, gusts and hail.

However, although the weekend will feel cooler, the hot weather is expected to return next week.