Sizzling in the sun!

The reading - the hottest ever say officials - was recorded by St Helens Council Environmental Health's thermometer that sits on top of Wesley House in St Helens town-centre.

And although the weather cooled off after thunderstorms on Sunday morning, townsfolk at least enjoyed plenty of fun in the sun.

The heatwave saw shoppers on spending sprees to stock up with summer goodies. Asda St Helens reported record sales on summertime products and has had to order in double the amount of some items.

During last week the store sold nearly 100 barbecues, about 1,000 tubs of ice cream and hundreds of melons.

Sonja Owen, general store manager, said: "Customers are going crazy for the sunshine and are making the most of it while it lasts. We ordered double stocks of things like water, fruit juice and ice cream and also had to bring in extra stocks of barbecues and outdoor toys just to cope with the demand."

She added that sales of so-called comfort foods fell dramatically. Hot drink sales were down 10 per cent and sales from the store's curry pot fell by 15 per cent.

Meanwhile, Whiston Hospital, say the public appear to be heeding the advice of doctors who warn of the perils posed by the sun.

A spokesperson for St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust said: "We've had a few cases of people suffering from insect bites and food poisoning but nothing extraordinary related to record temperatures. It appears there is an increase in people wising up to the hazards of too much sun."