The South Central Ambulance Service also reported a critical incident on Monday due to the pressure on its services.
“We continue to prioritize our response to those patients with life-threatening and major emergencies, but due to the current pressures we see, there will be delays in responding to other patients with less urgent needs who need an ambulance.” response,” a statement said.
Tarmac ‘melts’ on RAF base
The hot weather is also affecting the British military, with tarmac “melting” at an RAF base in Lincolnshire due to the warm weather.
Officials at RAF Cranwell have “carried around with tar” on their boots and on the wheels of Phenom and Prefect training aircraft, according to Sky News.
The situation at the flightline – the area where planes are maintained, parked and readied for use – became so serious on Monday that the heat was causing flights to be halted, according to reports.
“Our plane line has melted from the heat, so all flights at Cranwell have been halted,” Sky reported, citing an anonymous source.
“Obviously all the interns are lost because it’s just such a show.”
Asked about the claim that flight training on aircraft at the base had been halted due to the melting of the flight line in the heat, the RAF spokesman said: “As a precautionary measure, the main aircraft service area at RAF Cranwell is currently unavailable for routine use.”
Yesterday, senior government officials held a Cobra emergency meeting as forecasters warned, temperatures could rise above 40 degrees this weekend.