Pictures and updates from across our area as heatwave to hit record 38C

Teesside has seen record-breaking temperatures on Tuesday as the heatwave hits its peak.

An amber weather warning remains in place for Teesside as temperatures reach 38°C by 4pm. People have been urged to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to avoid heatstroke in the unprecedented temperatures that are hotter than Barbados - which is has been around 30C today!

A red weather warning has been issued for Yorkshire as well as southern parts of the country where some places will experience heat in the low 40s. People are being advised not to travel by road or train unless absolutely necessary as the weather is set to cause delays across the country.

Read more: Hour-by-hour forecast as heatwave set to reach 38°C record on Teesside

However Wednesday is set to bring some relief as temperatures ease back to mid 20s.

Follow below for updates throughout the day

Sun worshippers are enjoying the last of the heat at Saltburn Beach this evening.

Hundreds of Teessiders flocked to Seaton Carew beach today to soak up the sun.

Several libraries on Teesside will close early today due to the scorching temperatures.

A spokesperson from Stockton Council said: "Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby Central, and Yarm Libraries will all close at the earlier time of 5pm today due to the temperatures inside reaching 40 degrees."

There are reports of water shortages at supermarkets on Teesside due to the soaring temperatures.

Tesco Extra, in Stockton, has sold out of bottled water.

As record-breaking temperatures hit the UK today Teesside has been ranked hotter than Ibiza, Cyprus, Portugal and Greece.

According to The Met Office these were the top temperatures today:

Teesside had temperatures of 38C this afternoon prompting an amber warning of extreme heat.

Teesside is officially hotter than Barbados, according to The Met Office.

The maximum temperature today hit 30C on the island several degrees lower than Teesside. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for parts of our region. People are being urged to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water to avoid heatstroke in the unprecedented temperatures.

There are reports of strong winds in Hartlepool. Thunderstorms are expected this evening.

An Aldi spokesperson said: “We are aware that chillers in some of our stores are experiencing difficulties due to the extreme heat. We are working to repair these as quickly as possible.”

Teessiders are braced for thunderstorms as temperatures continue to rocket.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the North-east between 4pm and 8pm on Tuesday. Forecasters warned there is a small chance that lightning strikes could trigger wildfires.

A spokesperson said: "Whilst many places will remain dry and hot through this afternoon, isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop across northern England and far southeast Scotland. These will move quickly north with frequent lightning and the potential for localised but very strong winds with gusts of 60 mph possible. Any heavy rain is expected to be short-lived."

Cleveland Fire Brigade are responding to a woodland fire at Errington Woods, on the A174 Four Lane Ends, close to New Marske.

Redcar and Cleveland Council have made the decision to suspend their bin collections for the rest of the day due to the extreme temperatures.

A statement from the council reads:

With temperatures remaining very high throughout the borough, we've taken the decision to suspend collections of recycling and garden waste for the remainder of the day. We've taken note of the areas that haven't had their collections and we plan to get the crews back out on Saturday, Sunday or Monday to catch up.

The crews are going to concentrate on getting household waste bins collected today and we will let you all know the plan to collect recycling and garden waste as soon as possible. If you've not had your recycling or garden waste collected today, please bring your bin back in for now and present them for our crews on the reorganised collection day.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause but we are sure that you understand that the health & safety of our crews is hugely important to us. With temperatures set to fall after today, we don't expect any further disruption to collections for the rest of the week.

Beach goers at Seaton Carew have been slammed after leaving rubbish including towels, cans and disposable barbecues on the shoreline. One of Britain's rarests seabirds, Little Terns, nest nearby and their habitat had been reportedly disturbed by visitors at the beach.

Read the full article here.

TV presenter Jonathan Ross has been spotted in Whitby this afternoon, outside Quayside fish and chips shop. He was seen filming in the town, with passersby grabbing a quick picture of him.

Preston Park in Eaglescliffe is incredibly quiet as temperatures begin to peak. Local authorities such as Durham County Council have urged people to take care when visiting parks, as the metal on swings and slides could easily burn childrens' legs whilst playing.

Tesco on Eston's Trunk Road is another supermarket which is suffering problems due to the ongoing heatwave. Parts of their chilled section are currently empty due to a propblem with the fridges; Tesco have been contacted for a comment.

The RSPCA have released a video which highlights the dangers of taking pets for a walk in hot temperatures. They recorded the temperature of a pavement throughout a hot day, with the temperature reading well over 60 degrees at one point.

Outwood Academy Ormesby have altered their uniform policy until the end of term, meaning students can attend school in their PE kit until the school breaks up for the summer holidays.

Taking to Facebook, Outwood Academy posted:

We have taken the decision to keep the alteration to our uniform policy until the end of term - students can attend in their PE kit or uniform minus blazer and tie. Thanks for your ongoing support.

L-R: Deborah Nicholson with Rebekah, Alex, and Jessica Fenby. The group have travelled from Eston to Redcar for a day at the beach.

The chillers in Aldi's store on Brenda Road in Hartlepool are currently down due to the extreme heat.

L-R: Zoe Coulson, Cathy Hastings, Keeley Walton, Millie Elliott, Tarna Coulson, from Bishop Auckland and Stoke on Trent.

Russells Fish and Chip shop on Redcar sea front has been a popular place over the last few days, with the warm weather meaning beach goers have flocked to the seaside, and have been enjoying fish and chips.

Russell Newson, of Russells chip shop, said:

"In 38 years of working this is the hottest I've ever known it. The trade has been really good since Friday, the heat has brought people out.

"We've all worked in these conditions forever and we're used to it. Today is no different to us - we're better off in here than out there!"

Queues are beginning to form at Gabrielle's ice cream shop in Redcar.

One of the staff members at the nearby amusements arcade said: "People queued outside ice cream and chip shops until half nine on Monday night. with people swimming in the sea until about 10pm. The ice cream shops are getting hammered!"

Beverley Russell with Alyssa and Lilli Russell. The family have enjoyed trips to Redcar on Monday and Tuesday, and are spending Tuesday afternoon building sand castles on the beach.

An obvious choice to cool down in this weather is of course an ice cream, in Teesside one of the most popular options is a famous lemon top from Pacittos, on Redcar sea front.

So how long does it take to melt in these boling temperatures? Watch our Facebook Live to find out for yourself!

Sunburn isn't the only thing to contend with during the heatwave. Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, is a common condition which can affect many people.

It can be quite uncomfortable but usually harmless, the symptoms include:

How can you prevent heat rash from developing?

How can you calm the itchy feeling?

Beach goers at Hartlepool headland were treated to extra entertainment yesterday, as a pod of dolphins were spotted frolicking in the North Sea.

You can read the full story here: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/dolphin-pod-put-amazing-display-24528105

As temperatures are set to reach 40C degrees in some parts of the country, the RSPCA have released advice on how to help animals stay cool during the hot weather, and what to do in an emergency.

Provide several water bowls around the home for pets to drink often.

Place containers of water outside for wild animals.

Do not take your dog on a car journey unless absolutely necessary.

Try to keep at least one room in the home as cool as possible by closing curtains or using a fan (out of reach) to encourage good airflow.

Check pets and outdoor animals such as chickens and small furries every hour for signs of heatstroke, fly-strike or sunburn and keep water topped up.

Do not take your dog out for a walk or exercise - it may be possible to take them for a gentle walk on the lead when the sun has gone down either early morning or late at night.

Keep toilet breaks for dogs very brief and try to stick to shaded spots as much as you possibly can.

If your dog, cat or small furry looks uncomfortable , try wrapping an ice pack or frozen water bottle in a tea towel and place it near them to lie next to, or use damp towels for your pet to lie on.

Dogs die in hot cars. Call 999 in an emergency if you see a dog in a hot car.

Trolleys have been placed over an aisle in Ingleby Barwick Tesco due to the fridges being broken.

Fridges and freezers in Ingleby Barwick's Tesco store remain empty due to a breakdown, reportedly due to the heat.

An aisle has been blocked up with trolleys, whilst signs saying 'Sorry for inconvenience - fridge breakdown' line the empty fridges and freezers. Part of the freezer aisle also remains empty, as the ongoing high temperatues could be the cause of the breakdown.

Tesco have been contacted for a comment. Shoppers at the store confirmed that staff had began restocking some of the empty fridges, suggesting they've been fixed.

Good news for those who aren't sun worshippers or are just hoping for some slightly cooler temperatures, the heatwave and hot temperatures are set to abruptly end.

So what does the rest of the week look like? The Met Office has released the following forecasts

Wednesday: Cloudy for most with some rain moving gradually eastwards. Breezier than recently, with some stronger gusts around more showery bursts possible later. Temperatures well down on Tuesday, but still warm. Maximum temperature 25 °C.

Outlook from Thursday-Sunday: More seasonable temperatures are expected through this period, with sunny spells and a few showers. Perhaps becoming warmer again, but breezier and more unsettled later Saturday.