TEMPERATURES soared yesterday as the country experienced its hottest day this year.

Members of the public took advantage of the temperature and heated outdoors in Worcester, which saw its own hottest day of the year, though it did not beat its all-time record from August 3, 1990, when the mercury soared to 37°C.

Darren Hobbes, 53, who works as a gardener for Worcester City Council at Cripplegate Park said: “This weather is great for the flowers and they bloom well but then so do the weeds as well so it’s a case of keeping on top of the flora.”

At Gheluvelt Park, children and adults lay on the grass to catch some rays and soaked up the sun.

Terry Poutney, 56, from Kidderminster, said: “I’m on my way to the train station and I decided to cut through the park on the way there.

“This weather is wonderful - long may it continue.”

Across the country, the Met Office has issued a yellow ‘National Severe Weather Warning’ for large parts of the UK.

The country experienced its hottest July day on record, with temperatures reaching 36.9°C at Heathrow in west London.

The all-time UK temperature record is 38.5°C recorded in Faversham in August 2003.

Public Health England is warning people to take the necessary steps to protect themselves in the heat as the current heatwave continues.

Advice given by the authority includes taking water everywhere and staying up to date with weather forecasts.