Cyprus heatwave warning to holidaymakers

Tourists travelling to Cyprus were today warned to take precautions as the country roasts in a heatwave.

The island, lying in the east of the Mediterranean, is a hugely popular destination and attracts thousands of UK holidaymakers each summer.

But Cyprus is in the grip of a heatwave with temperatures in places reaching a searing 43 degrees Celsius earlier this week, just 3C short of the July record.

Visitors to the island have been advised to take precautions against the extreme heat by drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration, the main cause of heat exhaustion.

People have also been advised not to stay in the sun for longer than one hour, especially not between midday and 4pm.

The high temperatures have also led to increased demand for electricity, as people switched on their air-conditioning to combat the sweltering temperatures.

A spokeswoman for MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, explained: "It has been very hot on Cyprus for some time now. Inland temperatures have been ranging between 42-43C, while it is slightly cooler on the coast with temperatures between 32-39C.

"Larnaca on the south coast has regularly been recording temperatures of 35C, while the average for this time of the year is some seven degrees below this."

"We would advise people travelling to Cyprus in the coming weeks to follow health guidelines and ensure they drink enough water and stay out of the direct sun during the hottest parts of the day."

In contrast the UK's stop-start summer continues at full pace with a bright, sunny day forecast for Saturday.

These conditions will quickly transform to widespread rain on Sunday. The forecast next week is for the weather to be changeable.