Find out how people are
enjoying the sunshine in Gillingham.

Some of us were stuck in stuffy offices on the hottest day of
the year so far on Thursday - but these people had a better
idea.

Temperatures soared above 30 degrees in parts of the county
and many were lucky enough to have the day off work.

Kent has been bathed in hot sunshine all week - but
temperatures on Thursday were expected to top 32 degrees
Celsius, that is 90 degrees Farenheit.

It may feel like a scorcher, but it is still a long way off the
record. On the August 10, 2003 Faversham entered the record books
for the highest recorded temperatures in the country, 38.5 degrees
Celsius.

John Hammond, forecaster at the Met Office, said: "This is
certainly the warmest temperatures since the hot weather of
2006."

The Met Office have put in place a heatwave warning and is
working in conjunction with The Department of Health and the NHS to
ensure the vulnerable and elderly are protected.

NHS advice for staying safe in the heat:

• Don'tgo out in the hottest part of the day (11am – 3pm);
• Avoid strenuous activity;
• If you have to go out stay in the shade as much as possible;
• Drink regularly, even if you are not thirsty;
• Wear a hat and loose fitting clothing;
• Close the curtains in rooms which get a lot of sun;
• Avoid coffee, tea and alcohol as they can dehydrate;
• Apply sun cream.