By Saul Cooke-Black

TEMPERATURES will continue to rise today as a heatwave hits Stroud and the South West.

The mercury is expected to soar to a high of 27 C, making Stroud hotter than Casablanca in Morocco and Istanbul in Turkey.

The dry conditions will continue overnight with largely clear skies.

Temperatures will only cool off slightly so it will be a warm and muggy night.

Public Health England has urged people to look after those who may be vulnerable in the heat, such as older people, young children and those with serious illness.

Advice is to stay hydrated with cool drinks and keep indoor areas as cool as possible.

Full advice for keeping safe in the heat from Public Health England can be found below:

try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm
apply sunscreen of at least SPF15 with UVA protection
wear UV sunglasses, preferably wraparound, to reduce UV exposure to the eyes
wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes, a hat and light scarf
drink lots of cool drinks
look out for others especially vulnerable groups such as older people, young children and babies and those with serious illnesses
never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals.