The UK has recorded its hottest summer since records began, with an average temperature of 16.1°C, beating the previous high set in 2018.

The season saw four heatwaves, peaking at 35.8°C in Kent. While not the highest UK temperature ever, the sustained warmth drove the record average.

Scientists say such a summer would once have been expected once every 340 years without climate change. Today, it could happen once every five years.

All of Britain’s five warmest summers have occurred since 2000, underscoring the growing influence of global warming.

Experts warn the heat is straining ecosystems, agriculture, and public health, calling it a clear “wake-up call” for faster climate action.