SWELTERING weather conditions saw temperatures rise to as high as 36C in Colchester yesterday, with highs of 38C expected today.

The warm weather saw temperatures in Colchester surpass those of infamous hotspots around the world, with 36C topping the daily highs recorded in Cairo, Kolkata, and Texas.

Previous hot summers have seen Colchester’s weather stations record 33.4C in July 2006, and 33C in July 2019 – but yesterday’s temperatures far exceeded the highs previously recorded, as train services ran on reduced timetables and fire services put out warnings to prevent wildfires.

Although the hot temperatures had been forecast last week – with the Met Office issuing a red heat warning for the first time ever in the UK – yesterday’s scorching conditions still caused disruption across infrastructure in Essex.

Greater Anglia, which runs key trainlines into London, limited the speed of trains to 60mph to prevent any damage being caused to the rail tracks.

The service ran on a reduced timetable and official advice for those who regularly commute by train was only to travel if necessary.

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service also published official guidance which advised people not to light bonfires or campfires due to the speed at which fires could spread in the dry conditions.

But despite the unusually high temperatures, staff in Essex hospitals were not put under significantly greater pressure, according to a spokesman from the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust.

Neill Moloney, ESNEFT’s deputy chief executive, explained the organisation has plans in place to combat an influx in patients, whether they are taken ill from hot or cold weather.

He said: “We have robust adverse weather plans in place to make sure we are ready for all eventualities – as part of those plans, we are monitoring our ward temperatures closely and have air cooling units out in key clinical areas.

“All our services are running as normal and, as always, our teams are working extremely hard to care for our patients safely, not just in our hospitals, but in patients’ homes and in the community too.”