Ten ways to beat the heat

A week-long heatwave is forecast for much of the UK. How can one keep cool and carry on when the mercury is rising?

After two less-than-dazzling summers, the sun is back. Temperatures in parts of the UK this week are expected to top 30° Celsius, prompting the Met Office to issue its first ever heatwave warning.

But the effects of soaring temperatures can be countered. With some help from the NHS' Heatwave Plan, here are 10 suggestions - some eminently practical, others a little more ambitious - to help you keep a cool head while all around you are losing theirs.

1. PAINT YOUR HOUSE WHITE

2. KEEP OUT OF THE SUN

3. CHANGE YOUR DRESS

4. SHUT SOME WINDOWS

5. TREES AND PLANTS

6. BOWLS OF WATER

7. DRINK WELL

8. INSULATION

9. SASH WINDOWS

10. RELAX

Avoid over-doing physical exertion. Reaching for a cold drink ought to raise enough of a sweat as it is.