Researchers have warned that England is currently 'not prepared' to deal with extreme heatwaves that are expected this summer.

The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, which is part of LSE, is concerned that resources to deal with this sort of heat are at breaking point.

Heatwaves across the whole of the UK are predicted to become hotter and more frequent with climate change, with south-east England being the most vulnerable.

Last summer the UK saw temperatures rise above 40C for the first time with wildfires destroying properties on a scale never seen before.

The Office for National Statistics registered 2,803 excess deaths (excluding Covid) among the over-65s and 3,271 of all ages – the highest numbers during heatwaves since 2004.

The human body usually regulates itself to remain at 37C but extreme heat can overwhelm the system, causing dehydration, heart attacks and heatstroke.

What is being done to try and prepare for heatwaves?

A new high-temperature warning system is being launched by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as part of this.

It's being introduced in collaboration with the Met Office, which is warning that future heatwaves will be "more intense and last longer", Sky News reports.

The Heat-Health Alerting (HHA) service comprises yellow, amber and red responses which will focus on the "health impacts" that very high temperatures can have on the population, especially those that are vulnerable.

The top level of this will be red, which indicates "significant risk to life for even the healthy population".

Those participating in the Grantham Institute's research, in association with the British Red Cross, said England is "not prepared to manage future extreme heat events, particularly if these were to occur more frequently at the same magnitude and duration".

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Last year the extreme heatwaves caused many wildfiresLast year the extreme heatwaves caused many wildfires (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: "Last year saw record high temperatures across England and evidence shows that heatwaves are likely to occur more often, be more intense and last longer in the years and decades ahead.

"It is important we are able to quantify the likely impacts of these heatwaves before they arrive to prevent illness and reduce the number of deaths."

A government spokesperson said: "The government and emergency services are well prepared for any future heatwaves.

"Since last summer's hot weather, we have worked across government to identify and implement lessons.

"This included the publication of the UK Health Security Agency's Adverse Weather and Health Plan, which contains guidance on extreme heat and outlines how everyone can work together to respond to heatwaves."