Parents in Berkshire have been warned to look out for young children and babies amid a heatwave alert.

The heat-health threat level was raised from yellow to amber at 9am this morning ahead of Friday, predicted to be the hottest day of the year.

Amber is the second highest watch level issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and requires social and healthcare services to target specific actions at high-risk groups like children and older people.

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The agency has advised people to close curtains on rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler, to drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol.

Only red level supersedes amber in the case of a national emergency: when a heatwave is so severe or prolonged that it put fit and healthy people at risk.

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Day by day forecast

Wednesday – peak 26C

The Met Office expects today to be dry and sunny, ahead of dry night with light winds and lenmgthy clear spells.

Thursday – peak 27C

Thursday will be a hot day with bright or sunny spells, but sunshine will be rather hazy given areas of high cloud.

Friday – peak 30C

Friday will be very sunny and very hot, but the weekend will be cloudier with increasing risk of rain and thunderstorms.