According to the Met Office, the sweltering heat could last until at least Thursday, sparking weather warnings and concerns for vulnerable people.

Forecasters have said there is “growing confidence” that this week could break the record for the hottest June temperature of 35.6°C, which was set in 1976 in Southampton.

In Oxfordshire, towns and villages, along with Oxford itself, are set to be between 34°C and 36°C throughout this week, with Thursday set to be the spike.

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The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned people to expect significant impacts across health and social care services, along with a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.

The extreme heat could also bring disruptions to rail, road and air travel, with the possibility of some tarmac melting, according to the Met Office.

On Monday, National Rail advised travellers to check their journeys in advance, allow for extra time, and to carry water.

Over the coming days, humid conditions are forecast alongside potentially tropical nights, when the overnight temperature does not fall below 20°C, making it feel “muggier” than last month’s heatwave, the weather service said.

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For Monday, central southern England could see highs of up to 34°C, with the temperature set to climb to 37°C on Tuesday in southern England and south-east Wales, Met Office meteorologist Simon Partridge said.

“Then Wednesday and Thursday, both 38°C, but there’s potential for it to go higher, and then by Friday, coming down a little bit, so we’ll see 33°C, and then it should ease off into the weekend but still stay quite warm, even into next week, although it won’t be anywhere near as warm as this week,” he added.

An extreme amber heat warning has been issued by the Met Office from Monday until Thursday, flagging potential health impacts for people vulnerable to extreme heat and heat-related issues for the wider population, as well as a possible increase in water safety incidents.

Monday and Tuesday’s warning covers most of southern England, central and eastern Wales, and much of the Midlands, while Wednesday and Thursday’s alert also include parts of Greater Manchester, Yorkshire and Cheshire.

People in the alert area are advised to drink plenty of fluids, keep out of the sun, and avoid exercising between 11am and 3pm, the weather service said.

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Mr Partridge said: “It’s a very unusual, very rare spell of very hot weather, so it’s one of those ones where people should take care, try to keep their houses as cool as possible, check in on those that are vulnerable, so the very young and very old, in particular, are more vulnerable to extreme heat.

“But everybody will feel this because it will be very hot and the overnight temperatures, in particular, will mean that people won’t be getting as much sleep, probably, as they would usually do, so it will affect everyone.

“There’s also potential for impacts to transport as well.

“We know that when things get very warm, there can sometimes be issues with railway lines, and even the possibility that some roads might not be doing too well.

“If it gets too warm, you may even see a little bit of tarmac melting at times.”

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The hottest temperatures are expected in areas between Bristol and London and south of the M4, with most of England and Wales set to hit more than 30C this week, he said.

Separate amber heat health alerts have been issued by the UKHSA, which now cover most of England from Monday morning until Friday night.

A UKHSA yellow heat alert is also in place for the North East of England during the same period.

Last summer was the hottest on record for the UK, with a mean temperature of 16.1°C between the start of June and the end of August, according to the Met Office.

The previous record was held by summer 2018, followed by 2006, 2003, 2022 and 1976.

The students, from the Falkland Islands Community School, are settling into life at Burford School, one of the oldest schools in the country.

Staff have praised the ‘excellent first impression’ they have made so far, noting how quickly the group has unpacked and familiarised themselves with the routines of the boarding house.

The school noted: “The buildings and setting have made a particularly strong impression.

“The Year 10 arts students wish to express our sincere gratitude to the individuals and companies whose generous sponsorship and support made this opportunity possible.”

Burford School, founded in 1571 by the townsmen of Burford with merchant Simon Wysdom at their helm, initially offered an education to the sons of the ordinary men of Burford, charging four pence for enrolment and a further eight pence for schooling per year.

The school began taking girls in 1924, thanks to the generosity of Elmslie John Horniman, and has now grown to just over 1,500 students.

Today, its community includes 100 boarders from the surrounding region and abroad.

Although the school no longer operates its once-successful farm, it continues to maintain a ‘strong rural feel’.

More than 450 years after its founding, Burford School remains, in its own words, ‘popular and successful’.

Both staff and students said they are ‘immensely proud’ to be part of Burford School.

As well as the homes, developer Obsidian Strategic also wants to build a special education needs school on the land to the north-eastern edge of the town.

The proposed development would be part of the Garden Town project, which will result in 15,050 homes and 20,000 high tech jobs delivered in the greater Didcot area.

The scheme was refused by South Oxfordshire District Council earlier this year.

The development attracted objections from 18 people, as well as Long Wittenham Parish Council, Didcot Town Council, Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire, Didcot Garden Town Team and Wittenham Against Over Development.

Objector Janet Haylett, of Westfield Road, previously said: “Over the past few years we have watched as Didcot has marched towards us with estates of Monopoly houses and already taken over a significant part of the parish.”

200-home site plan (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council)

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The planning officer’s report said: “Weighing against the development, it would permanently change the strong undeveloped rural character of the site, extending the town of Didcot east of Lady Grove Road into the parish of Long Wittenham.

“It would substantially reduce the gap between Didcot, Long Wittenham and the National Landscape, and would not protect and enhance the landscape, countryside and rural character.

“In conclusion, it is considered that the adverse impacts of the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

“The scheme therefore fails to represent sustainable development, and the material considerations outlined above do not justify making a decision other than in accordance with the development plan.”

The developer has now appealed the decision and the Planning Inspectorate will hold an inquiry on October 7 this year.

In the appeal’s documents, it said: “The appellant’s case is that the council cannot demonstrate a sufficient supply of deliverable housing land and that as such, the most important policies in the development plan for determining the application the subject of this appeal (i.e., those for the supply of land) are out-of-date; and that the appeal proposal represents sustainable development which should be acceptable in any event.

“The appeal proposals will deliver new market and affordable housing, which are much needed to help meet the strategic growth requirements of South Oxfordshire.

“The provision for a SEND school will also provide a clear benefit.

“The appeal proposals will further deliver significant environmental enhancement of the site and will demonstrably provide a biodiversity net gain to the area and an improved landscape edge to the north east of Didcot.

“The appeal proposals will deliver economic benefits for the area including the provision of new jobs both during the construction and operation of the development and also by way of increased levels of spending locally through the introduction of new households.”