The Telegraph - Jul 01 - Jul 07 2009

Page OFC

936

July 1 - 7, 2009 No. 936

THE WEEKLY WORLD EDITION OF The DailyTelegraph ANDThe SundayTelegraph

telegraph.co.uk/expat

TheTelegraph

MACCAS’ MISSION Saving the world, one steak at a time

::FEATURES P24-25

REUTERS

Mudskipper Charles Spencer dodges the rain at Glastonbury ::NEWS P6

By John Bingham

HOSPITALS could bring in emergency measures this week as weather forecasters raise the level of Britain’s heatwave alert.

The Met Office is expected to increase the heat warning to Level Three, the second highest level, after forecasts that temperatures will reach 91F (33C).

It would trigger emergency plans laid down by the Government. Hospitals would have to set up “cool rooms” where vulnerable patients could seek refuge. They would also have to hand out cold drinks and switch off lights and electrical equipment in an effort to keep temperatures down. The Department of Health also calls on trusts to consider moving afternoon visiting times to the cooler morning hours.

There have been warnings that diseases such as swine flu could spread because of emergency ventilation measures.

The Met Office says Britain is now in the grip of the biggest heatwave since 2006 – the hottest summer on record in Britain. Steve Randall, a forecaster, said Monday’s daytime temperatures of up to 86F (30C) could gradually build between Tuesday and Thursday, potentially reaching

91F (33C). “It is looking like it could become more unsettled towards the end of the week but that is a long way off. I do not think that we could confidently predict the end [of the heatwave] at this stage,” he said.

The Met Office warned last Friday that even night-time temperatures in and around London would stay above 64F (18C) this week. It also issued a string of severe weather warnings for torrential downpours as soaring temperatures increase the risk of thunderstorms throughout the week.

A 17-year-old boy, named locally as Mohammed Junaid Hussain, from Birmingham, was in a critical condition in hospital last night after being struck by lightning as he sheltered during a game of cricket. He suffered a heart attack, while another teenager suffered electric shocks.

At the Wimbledon tennis championships, where more than 500 spectators were treated for heat exhaustion, hopes for a tournament unaffected by rain were rising. Forecasters said that even if thunderstorms arrive during the week, the warm dry conditions would return for the finals weekend.

Wimbledon roof used as sunshade, Page 46

Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Michael Jackson, the singer known as the King of Pop, died last week aged 50 after suffering a suspected heart attack. As mourning fans flocked to buy his records in a sales surge music industry experts described as “unprecedented”, 43 singles featuring the singer entered the British Top 200 and five of his albums entered the Top 20, with Number Ones reaching No1. Reports p3, Comment p16

Queen Bee Life at the heart of the fashion hive ::NEWS P11

Bitter tears Eye-gouging outrage as Lions lose on final kick ::SPORTP42,43&48

‘We know you’re upset, dad,

but please, please, please

don’t start dancing’