Heatwave happiness as Devon beachgoers soak up soaring sunshine

Sunseekers packed beaches, promenades and harbour fronts as soaring temperatures brought record-breaking heat to parts of the South West.

Families, tourists and residents were seen making the most of the sunshine in Ilfracombe as the region remained under an amber heat health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The warning, which remains in place until 5pm on Thursday, covers Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire amid concerns the hot weather could affect vulnerable people and place increased pressure on health services.

Bude reached 31C on Monday, breaking Cornwall’s previous May temperature record of 28.5C set at Treknow on Friday, May 25, 2012.

At Chivenor, temperatures reached 30C, surpassing Devon’s previous May record of 28.2C recorded near Bere Alston on Tuesday, May 24, 1989.

Chaam Klinger, a South West UKHSA health protection consultant, warned the extreme heat could pose risks to some people.

She said: “The really high temperatures can especially affect people who are vulnerable.”

Chaam added older people, young children and those with heart, lung or kidney conditions were particularly at risk during periods of extreme heat.

The Met Office said the unusually warm weather was linked to a build-up of heat under an area of high pressure across the UK.

People across Ilfracombe were seen enjoying the warm weather throughout the day, with many heading to the seafront and harbour area to cool off as temperatures continued to climb across the region.