Even the fish are gasping as heatwave hits ten days

HUNDREDS of fish had to be rescued when part of a major river dried out as Britain struggled to cope with its longest heatwave since 1976.

Environment Agency workers saved more than 500 salmon and trout from the upper River Teme, in north Herefordshire.

They were trapped in puddles on the river bed as the country basked in temperatures of at least 84F (29C) for ten days.

Pet owners were urged to take measures to stop their animals getting sunburnt. Dogs, rabbits, cats, cows and even goldfish are all vulnerable.

Derby vet Paul Revell said: ‘Believe it or not, fish can get sunburnt if they spend too long at the surface of a pond or lake.’

Weather centres say the heatwave is likely to continue for

‘June was the driest on record’

another week, with the highest temperature likely to be 88F (31C) in the south on Sunday.

Thunderstorms had been forecast for parts of the south-east England yesterday but most were just brief showers.

However, a fierce 20-minute downpour in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, caused flash flooding which left streets and a rail line partially submerged.

Met Office forecaster Martin Bowles said: ‘ We think all through next week it will be sunny and dry with very little rain. There’s a possibility it could cool down the week after that, but we can’t be sure.’

He added: ‘These high temperatures aren’t coming over from Europe or any other part of the world. They are building in-situ within the UK.’

The Met Office says June was the driest on record in southeast and central southern England, with just 6 per cent of expected rainfall across counties including Essex and Dorset.