BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: Britain basks in heat

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Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 16:39 GMT 17:39 UK

In pictures: Britain basks in heat

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The record for the hottest July day in the UK since records began has been set, after temperatures hit 36.3C - and they are expected to climb further.

Mother and child playing in fountain near Tower Bridge, London

Mother and child playing in fountain near Tower Bridge, London

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With the capital among the hottest parts of the UK, Londoners made use of its amenities to combat the heat.

Maya and Euan, Asian elephants.

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Elephants in Whipsnade Zoo also took to the water in an effort to cool down, while keepers across the country fed other animals ice lollies.

Dog cooling down with ice-cream

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In Bournemouth, Dorset, Lola the dog cooled down with a vanilla ice-cream as temperatures continued to soar.

Children jumping off the rocks at Ballycastle

Children jumping off the rocks at Ballycastle

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At Ballycastle in Co Antrim, children took the fastest route into the water as other coast-goers stuck to the beach.

A rare heat loving 'solanum aviculare'

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The heat saw a rare visitor to the UK when solanum aviculare - known as the Kangaroo Apple plant - appeared in the Churchill Gardens housing estate in central London.

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The oven-hot temperatures were so sweltering chef Vered Zaada was able to fry an egg on her car bonnet.

Sign in Yorkshire National Park

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And in the Yorkshire National Park, wardens were warning of an extreme fire risk with signs posted throughout moorland areas.

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