Youngsters on the Isle of Sheppey had an unexpected treat this afternoon when firefighters turned up and sprayed them with water.

The boys and girls were playing in Beachfields Park, Sheerness, when a crew from Kent Fire and Rescue Service arrived with a fire engine, buckets of iced water and a 'fog spike' used to spray a fine mist.

Crew manager Andy Friday said: "It was the hottest day of the year so we thought we'd help and give people some safety awareness tips of being by the seaside at the same time.

"We advised about tides and currents, where to find the lifeguards and the importance of drinking liquids to remain hydrated."

It didn't take long for a crowd to gather, including Margaret Firth, 76, from Blatchers Close, Minster, and her sister Val Johnson,77.

Mrs Firth took the plunge and danced around in the water fully-clothed.

She said: "I was trying to get my nephews Jude, who is four, and his brother Ralph, who is one, to join in but they were too shy. So I thought I'd show them how to do it. I don't care what people think."

Her sister, who has just moved to Sheppey from Australia, was also roped in. She said: "I'm used to this heat but I do miss my pool."

On the seafront, RNLI lifeguards Tom King, 17, and Alex Wilmshurst, 20, were on duty.

The Island has three beaches patrolled by lifeguards from 10am to 6pm seven days a week until September 1. The other two are at Minster and Leysdown.

The hottest temperature recorded on the Island today was 38.8C at 3.24pm by Layla Stagg in the back garden of her home in Invicta Road, Sheerness, using a gro-egg thermometer.

She said: "The hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK was previously 38.5 in Faversham."

* Send your own photos of the heatwave to us below or email timesguardian@thekmgroup.co.uk

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