Storm warning follows record-breaking temperature

A Met Office yellow warning for thunderstorms is in place across the West Country after a new record temperature for June was set for the second day in a row.

The agency said 36.7C (98F) was recorded in Merryfield, near Ilminster in Somerset. The figure surpassed 36.4C (97.5F) in Yeovilton, which set a record earlier in the day.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a red heat health alert until 23:00 BST on Friday, while South Western Ambulance Service (SWAST) confirmed Wednesday was their busiest day with an "unsustainable" record of 3,941 calls.

While temperatures are set to cool on Friday, the Met Office warned thunderstorms could cause power cuts, flash flooding and travel problems.

A yellow thunderstorm warning is in place until 10:00 on Friday.

It comes after the region was battered by storms on Monday, which led to the closure of Bristol Airport and a house fire in Emersons Green, Bristol, after it was struck by lightning.

The weather agency advised people to prepare by protecting their property from gusty winds, check road conditions and check bus and train timetables before travelling.

Thunderstorms are expected to move northeastwards during the early hours of Friday before they clear later in the morning.

While many areas will miss them, the storms may produce sudden, gusty winds that could reach 50 to 60mph.

Frequent lightning, hail and heavy rain is also possible, according to the agency.

Passengers intending to travel by train have been advised to only make essential journeys amid the heat warnings.

Although the red heat alert will be reduced to amber on Friday, Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Western Railway (SWR) said their services were likely to be cancelled or heavily delayed as rail infrastructure could be impacted by extreme heat.

All GWR trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach were suspended earlier, while many other services were delayed or cancelled.

Any passengers who choose not to travel are able to amend their tickets or claim a refund from the train operators.

Libraries, churches and community centres opened their doors as cool spaces to help people try to escape the heat.

Jacky Manning, a church warden from St Nicholas' Church in Henstridge, Somerset, said: "We don't have to do anything to make it happen except open the door because the inside of the church is always cool."

Margaret Meadows, who visited the Chippenham Community Hub cool space earlier, said: "We're not quite prepared for it [the heat] are we?"

Sue Spearey, who was also there, said she was sleeping on the floor of her front room and the heat left her feeling unwell.

"It's been so hot in my flat.

"I like some heat, but I like a breeze as well," she added.

Many of the cool spaces also offered free water to visitors - something which dozens of households in Portishead were left without on Thursday morning.

Bristol Water said two power outages were reported at a pumping station on Down Road on Wednesday night which left some customers with low pressure or a loss of supply.

The National Grid restored the power earlier and the water supply returned soon after.

A burst water main in Oldland Common was also repaired overnight.

Although the Met Office's heat alert will be downgraded to an amber level on Friday, the UKHSA's red heat health alert will remain in place until 23:00.

The health alert reflects the ongoing risk from sustained heat.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.