As Beijing boils in a record heatwave and Melbourne records its hottest night since 1902 London has also sweltered through a baking weekend, with temperatures reaching 32°C.

For a nation craving sunny skies this was a godsend. A lot of young Britstook advantage of the glorious sunshine by having a barbeque with friends while watching the World Cup final.

However, there is some bad news too. Health agencies confirmed there has been a significant rise in the number of fatalities in the UK since the start of the latest hot spell two weeks ago.

A warning was issued by the Health Protection Agency ahead of the latest heatwave, alerting people to the potential health risks.

Clearly, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions such asrespiratory and cardiovascular diseases, are the most vulnerable.

Take lots of water and sun cream when you go to the beach

Persistent hot weather can also cause rashes, fluid retention,dizziness and even fainting.

Heatstroke is the most dangerous condition, where the body can no longer control its temperature and people become confused,disorientated, have fits and fall unconscious.

So what can you do to limit the risks?

Top tips for keeping cool include wearing loose cotton clothes andspraying or splashing your face and the back of your neck with cold water several times a day.

Drink plenty of water so you don’t get dehydrated.

It's also a good idea to keep your windows shut if your room is cooler than it is outside.

According to a Department of Health report, climate change means that heatwaves are likely to become more frequent in England.

The worst British heatwave in recent years happened in August 2003 when record-breaking temperatures led to 2,000 excess deaths.