RECORD breaking temperatures saw Colchester bask in highs of 38C as public services put special measures in place to keep people safe from the extreme heat.

On the hottest day Britain has seem, some schools in Essex closed completely and public transport companies allowed staff to alter their daily routines to ensure their staff didn’t fall victim to the scorching weather.

Bus operator First Colchester saw a reduction in passengers because of the weather, but rules on work uniform were relaxed for drivers so they could work more comfortably.

Several schools also said they had been more lenient with uniform, with others such as Powers Hall Academy in Witham closing early at 1pm because of the extreme temperatures.

NHS providers at the East Suffolk and North Essex Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) asked members of the public to use health services wisely whilst temperatures rose to unprecedented levels.

The deputy chief executive of the trust, Neill Moloney, said hospitals had seen only a minor uptick in patients attending accident and emergency.

He said: “We have seen a slight increase in the number of people attending accident and emergency [but] overall, people do seem be following all the public health advice and staying out of the sun, staying cool indoors where possible, and staying hydrated which is encouraging.”

The East of England Ambulance Service saw a significant increase in demand, however.

A spokesman said: “Demand on our service is very high and, even when the temperatures drop, we expect to still being seeing an impact from heat-related illnesses into the weekend.

Colchester Council suspended its garden waste service for the rest of the week so staff could be redeployed to catch up from missed collections.

But some businesses, such as Dedham Boathouse saw an increase in footfall as many people decided to get out and enjoy the hot weather.

Natasha Cowles, the assistant manager said: “It’s definitely busier – we often see a lot of people when it’s sunny.

“When it’s sunny, we try and back the rota up so we can give people breaks every couple of hours – we try and get as many people on shift as we can.”