The government has issued a heat health alert for Hertfordshire and warned of additional pressures on healthcare services.

Starting from 1am this morning (August 28) and lasting until 9am tomorrow, the yellow warning covers the entire East of England, South East, and East Midlands area and London.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issues the alerts where very warm weather could cause increased risk to vulnerable people and spikes in the number requiring healthcare services, putting pressure on the NHS.

Parts of Hertfordshire can expect highs of 28C today, between 3pm and 4pm. A warm evening and night are also expected, with temperatures remaining at around 20C as late as 10pm and 11pm, according to the Met Office.

Heat health alerts help let people or organisations, such as health and social care providers and volunteers, know when to take action to check up on vulnerable people and keep them cool.

One of the impacts the UKHSA highlights is: “Increase in risk of mortality amongst vulnerable individuals and increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm.”