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The heatwave has been responsible for as many as 760 deaths, according to official calculations, as the UK enters the sixth day of plus-30C temperatures, The Independent reported.

Research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine for The Times has estimated the death toll for the first nine days of the heatwave at between 540 and 760 people in England alone.

With temperatures set to remain high until at least the end of next week, the number of heat-related deaths is likely to double, experts said.

The Met Office issued a level-three heatwave alert yesterday, warning social and healthcare workers to focus on the very young, the very old and those with chronic diseases.

Firefighters are attending more than 20 grass fires a day in London, and said the strength of the sun’s rays meant they were even being caused by magnification from broken glass in gardens and sheds.