UK's highest temperature since 2006 recorded

Image source, PA

Image caption, At Wimbledon, Australian fans showed how to cope with the heat

Wednesday has seen the highest temperature recorded in the UK for almost a decade, with the thermometer hitting 36.7 degrees Celsius in north-west London.

There is plenty of health advice about keeping cool - both for humans and animals.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 25 degrees Celsius on Thursday, with the possibility of thunderstorms.

The UK's previous hottest temperature on record was 36.5C, recorded at Wisley, Surrey, in 2006.

Image source, PA

Image caption, In the ticket queue at Wimbledon, other spectators prepared themselves for a day in the sun

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, In Blackpool, the only way to keep cool was to dive right in

Image source, PA

Image caption, Reindeer in Seaham County Durham were hosed down to help them cope with the heat

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Duchess of Cornwall used a parasol to keep the sun at bay at Hampton Court Flower Show
Image caption, Ice cream was another popular way of cooling down at the Norfolk Show near Norwich, England
Image caption, Others took advantage of the hot weather to go wakeboarding in Salford Quays

Image source, Sydney Salter

Image caption, Sydney Salter's dogs, Max and Sam, found it too hot to do anything too physical

Image source, PA

Image caption, While a chimpanzee at Chester Zoo cooled down with an ice lolly

Image source, Lorraine Taylor

Image caption, Flash, from West Bridgford, near Nottingham, is staying cool with a horse-sized paddling pool