Duringa First Division News Today

The relentless heat and lack of rainfall have emptied reservoirs and pushed most of the country into prolonged dry weather status - the first of four drought categories.

The scenes at hotspots around the country this month echo the photographs that were taken during the famous ten-week heatwave of 1976. Above: Brighton beach.

On June 25, 1976, forecasters at the Met Offices London Weather Centre announced that the mercury had hit 92F (33C), making it the hottest day since 1957. Above: Forecaster Bill Giles.

Overall, there were ten weeks of heat that saw widespread drought, mass standpipe use, and even the pausing of the murder trial of the notorious Black Panther. Above: A standpipe queue in Devon.