London weather LIVE: Bushfire sparks travel chaos as heatwave predicted to last even longer

Dr Geoff Darch, head of strategic asset planning for Anglian Water, has urged customers to “hang up their hosepipes” amid the heatwave.

He said: “Every day of sustained hot weather increases the challenge of balancing supply and demand, and we are now at the point where we need to ask customers to help by hanging up the hosepipe, letting lawns go brown, cars go dirty and using water even more wisely to help protect the environment and ensure water remains available for all customers.”

Anglian Water announced a hose pipe ban for its more than 5 million customers this morning. Parts of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk are affected.

Trains that can withstand extreme heat have been ordered by Eurostar as it expects temperatures to soar across Europe.

The cross-Channel travel operator has boosted the specifications of dozens of new double-decker Celestia trains to make them resilient to conditions of up to 55C rather than 45C.

You can read the full story here:

Photos of Greenwich Park show the usually lush plains have dried out amid the latest heatwave.

The London Fire Brigade has upgraded its risk of wildfires to “extreme” this morning. Dry grass and hot weather often drastically increases the risk of grass fires.

London is yet to be hit with a hosepipe ban, but several of its neighbouring counties have already been affected, with the ban closing in on the capital.

Thames Water has not issued an official ban, but the water company has urged its customers not to use hosepipes or sprinklers during heatwaves.

Evening Standard’s interactive map shows exactly where hosepipe bans are currently in place, as well as the areas to watch in the coming days.

You can see it here:

With sweltering temperatures damaging productivity and causing workers to avoid the city, a bump in iced latte sales won’t make up for the hit the capital is taking.

You can read the full story here:

A third heatwave this year has brought temperatures as high as 34C to the capital with clear blue skies and plenty of sunshine.

Summers in London mean beer gardens, picnics, and long hazy evenings, but even the most enthusiastic of sun worshippers will be desperate for some reprieve from the heat.

Which begs the question, when will this heatwave end?

You can find out the exact date here:

An “extreme” wildfire risk notice has been put in place by the London Fire Brigade from Saturday until at least Monday.

The brigade warns that the capital’s wildfire risk has been upgraded from “elevated” to “extreme” as another sunny weekend looms.

The assessment by the Natural Hazards Partnership was based on factors including prolonged dry weather, wind speed, and heat.

While wildfires can occur naturally, the majority are caused by human behaviour, whether that’s accidental or deliberate.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said: “We want everyone across the city to enjoy the continuing heatwave but this must be done responsibly.

““With so many of London’s parks and open spaces close to properties and communities, it is vital the public take as much care as possible to prevent these fires starting in the first place. We have seen first-hand in London, as well as around the world, just how devastating the impact wildfires can have on livelihoods.

“That means no disposable barbecues in parks and open spaces, taking rubbish home with you if no bins are available and ensuring your cigarettes are discarded of properly.

“If you’re having a barbecue at home, make sure it is on level ground and away from decking, fences, trees and balconies.”

Soaring temperatures have wreaked havoc across London’s train network.

Extreme temperatures in the capital are causing rails to buckle, overhead wires to sag, and lineside fires.

Some train companies are warning customers to only travel if essential and to check their journeys before they travel.

You can read the full story here:

Several water companies have announced hose pipe bans, including Anglian Water and Southern Water, while others are evaluating their resources amid drought conditions in the UK.

Under temporary hose pipe bans, households cannot use hosepipes for non-essential tasks. That means you can’t water your garden, fill up your paddling pool, or wash your car while the ban is in place.

However, you can use hosepipes for the welfare of animals and pets.

If you don’t follow the rules, you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

To check if there is a hosepipe ban in your area, you can use the Water UK Postcode Checker.

From here, you can find out who your water provider is. Then check the company’s website to see if there are any restrictions in place.

While there is no official ban in place, Thames Water has urged its customers not to use hosepipes or sprinklers during heatwaves.

The water company said: “At times, we're using water faster than we can deliver it through our network. We're working around the clock to manage this, moving water to where it's needed and fixing leaks as quickly as possible.

“Reducing your use at home, especially outdoors, will make the biggest difference. So we're asking customers not to use hosepipes or sprinklers during heatwaves. This will help us make sure everyone gets enough water for essential use.”

Thames Water added that a hose or sprinkler can use up to 1,000 litres of water an hour - the equivalent of 25 people taking a 4-minute shower.