The UK could experience its warmest June night ever, forecasters say, after the record for the hottest June day was broken again on Thursday afternoon as temperatures reached 36.4C.

The high was recorded at Yeovilton, Somerset, according to Met Office provisional figures, with the heatwave continuing to grip parts of the UK.

A rare red warning warning for extreme heat, which warns of danger to life, is currently in place until the end of Thursday in southern, central and western areas of England and parts of Wales until midnight.

It has been extended for a third consecutive day for the first time, impacting millions of people in London and parts of south-eastern England until 21:00 on Friday.

On Wednesday night, the UK saw its warmest June night on record, according to provisional figures, making it a difficult night for many people sleeping.

Overnight temperatures in Cardiff did not drop below 23.5C, exceeding the previous record of 22.7C set in 1976.

But that record could be broken again today, with temperatures already soaring.

Thursday’s 36.4C high in Yeovilton surpassed the 36.1C recorded in Gosport, Hampshire, which broke the longstanding record for June set in both 1976 and 1957.

Meanwhile, as 14:00 BST temperatures had reached 35C in Otterbourne, Hampshire, 34.3C in Wiggonholt, West Sussex and 34C at Bournemouth Airport.

Within the red extreme heat warning area, temperatures could exceed 36C or 37C in some locations on Thursday, accompanied by very high humidity.

The Met Office said people should expect population-wide adverse health affects “leading to serious illness or danger to life”, substantial changes in working practices and daily routine required, high risk of failure of heat-sensitive systems with loss of power, along with transport delays.

A wider amber warning is also in place in Wales, southern England, the Midlands and part of northern England, external, with areas as far north as Manchester expected to see temperatures reach above 30C.

And a separate amber warning for extreme heat, lasting from midnight on Friday, external until 23:59 covers south-east England, eastern England and parts of the Midlands.

At least six NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents because of the heatwave, sources have told the BBC.

It comes amid reports the extreme heat has caused problems with IT systems, cancer equipment, lab testing and scanners.

London Ambulance Service said it has recorded its highest ever number of life-threatening emergencies as temperatures soared across the capital “driven by the extreme heat” across the capital.

National Rail has warned people to only travel if absolutely necessary on Thursday and Friday if their journeys are from or within the red or amber weather warning zone, and more than 2,400 schools in England and Wales have closed.

South East Water announced a temporary hosepipe ban for around 850,000 people living in Kent due to “high temperatures and record demand for water”.

The heatwave is set to continue to the end of the week.

It is being driven by a “heat-dome” settling over western Europe that brought extreme conditions across the continent.

Scientists have warned hotter temperatures are likely in the years ahead. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of days exceeding 30C in the UK more than trebled compared with the 1961-1990 average, the Met Office says.