PERSHORE residents sizzled in the searing heat on Saturday when the town was put on record as the hottest place in Britain.

As the sun blazed down over the weekend, the West Midlands was the hottest area of Britain, with Pershore the warmest of the lot as temperatures peaked at 29 celsius or 84 fahrenheit.

As the nation watched England's football team toil in the heat in Germany, the temperature in Pershore was three degrees hotter than Frankfurt where the game was being played.

Journal weatherman Paul Damari said: "The temperature was very high and above average for the time of year. It was a similar story across much of the West Midlands, including places closer to home such as Evesham, Malvern and Worcester.

"The warm weather is because of a south easterly wind which comes down from the Cotswold hills and we know whenever that happens, there is going to be some very hot weather. Saturday was certainly the highest temperature we have had so far this year.

It is also likely that we have not seen the highest of the temperatures of this summer yet according to Paul.

He added: "I would be extremely disappointed and surprised if the temperature did not reach 90 fahrenheit, which is around 32 celsius, on a couple of days this summer. I believe we will have a number of thunder storms but they are likely to be short lived."