OLDER people and other more vulnerable people must take extra care during extreme heat as amber warnings were issued for Thursday, with temperatures in part of England expected to hit 38°C.

Age UK charity director Caroline Abrahams urged friends and loved ones to be particularly attentive to older people in the coming days.

“As we get older, our bodies find it harder to adapt to extremes of heat and cold, particularly if someone has underlying conditions affecting their lungs, heart or kidneys,” she said.

“Even younger and otherwise healthy people can feel the effects of very hot weather, but with temperatures forecast to reach up to 36°C in some areas, the risks can be much greater for older people.”

Ms Abrahams said simple precautions can make a real difference, including avoiding direct sunlight, drinking plenty of water and planning outings in the early morning or later evening.

“Most homes in the UK are not designed to cope with extreme heat, so it is important to do what we can to keep cool air in and hot air out,” she warned.

“Keeping curtains and windows closed during the hottest part of the day, then opening windows overnight when temperatures fall, can help keep homes cooler.”

The Met Office issued extreme heat warnings for London and parts of the South East, East Midlands, East of England, West Midlands and South Yorkshire, from 9am to midnight.

It comes off the heels of a record dry July for England and Wales, widespread drought and multiple heatwaves.

Fire chiefs warned of sustained fire risk in the hot, dry conditions, with July the busiest on record for wildfires and firefighters responding to 185 wildfires in the first 10 days of August.