Sun may not be such fun as heatwave warning issued

The heatwave that engulfed Britain over the weekend may have been welcomed by sunbathers - but elderly people, the young and those with chronic diseases have been warned by the government to avoid the sun over the next few days.

The Department of Health took the unusual step of issuing a heatwave warning after the Met Office predicted there was an 80% chance temperatures would soar to 27C (80F) on at least two consecutive days between Sunday and Tuesday.

With a forecast of 34C (93F) predicted for tomorrow in the south-east, the DoH warned of "significant health risks", in the first guidance it has issued on a specific heatwave since drawing up a "heatwave health plan" two years ago.

That move was prompted by the heatwave of August 2003, in which 27,000 people died of heat-related causes in north-west Europe. At least 11,000 of them died in France, prompting accusations of apathy and incompetence against the government. At least 2,000 died in Britain, with 85% aged 75 or over.

In a leaflet to be distributed to GPs' surgeries, walk-in centres and care homes, the DoH suggests babies and children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases should take steps to prevent dehydration. These include staying indoors during the hottest hours of the day, between 11am and 3pm, regularly drinking water or fruit juice, and avoiding alcohol, tea or coffee. Becoming dehydrated and overheated can lead to sunstroke - which might be fatal - or heat exhaustion.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting and collapse caused by low blood pressure. People with these symptoms are advised to take a lukewarm shower, to drink, or to sponge themselves down with cold water. Sunstroke, or heatstroke, can develop if heat exhaustion is left untreated, but can occur without warning.

While some parts of the country sweltered yesterday, Manchester was hit by torrential downpours. Severe thunderstorms caused flash flooding, which closed two lanes of the M60 motorway, and homes were damaged by lightning strikes. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue dealt with almost three times as many calls during the storms, receiving more than 630, up from an average 250.