SALISBURY is braced for another heatwave this week, with highs of 31 degrees.

The scorching weather, to be felt across the whole of the country, is predicted by forecasters to last longer than July’s record-breaking hot spell.

Temperatures over the coming days will remain lower than last month’s shocking 43 degrees but the warmth will continue over a “prolonged period”, the Met Office has said.

Today, August 8, Salisbury is expected to reach highs of 29 degrees late afternoon, at around 4pm.

The weather will remain in the high 20s for the next seven days, with the city's hottest day of the week (31 degrees) predicted to be Friday.

The Met Office has urged people to follow precautions to avoid becoming overheated, including closing curtains and windows during the day and avoiding the midday sun.

It comes after the Environment Secretary urged more water companies to impose hosepipe bans during an unusually dry August.

George Eustice said some firms have already “rightly” taken action to mitigate the effects of the prolonged dry weather as he encouraged others to follow suit.

Southern Water has already imposed a hosepipe ban for customers in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, followed exactly a week later for South East Water customers in Kent and Sussex.

Wessex Water, the water provider for most of Wiltshire, has not imposed the same ban for the area it covers, assuring "there are no supply problems in the Wessex Water region".

A spokesperson said: "Our reservoir and groundwater levels are below average as expected at this time of year, but we have no plans to introduce a hosepipe ban.

"Please use water responsibly for the benefit of everyone and the environment."

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