Bone dry Britain braces for fourth summer heatwave as weeks without rain leave ground like dust

BONE-DRY Britain is braced for a fourth summer heatwave — after weeks without rain which left the country looking like a desert. Temperatures are set to hit at least 33C (91.4F) in parts of the UK next week as millions are affected by hosepipe bans. Britain is set for a fourth summer heatwave, pictured sun bleached grass at Stonehenge Credit: Nick Bull/pictureexclusive.com The well-watered greens of a Dorset golf course stand out like oases in the Sahara Credit: BNPS Dramatic pictures show grass around Stonehenge in Wiltshire looking dry as dust. Southsea Common in Hants has turned to straw while the well-watered greens of a Dorset golf course stand out like oases in the Sahara. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Wildfires have broken out, with a specialist helicopter called in to tackle one in North Wales that has been burning for days. Britain is on course for its driest July in 200 years, with parts of the South East having no rain for 36 consecutive days — a 30-year record. Britain is on course for its driest July in 200 years, pictured Cambridge Credit: Bav Media Southsea Common in Hants has turned to straw Credit: Solent An official drought has been declared in North Wales and the Upper Severn after Britain’s hottest June since records began. Cricket matches have been cancelled due to cracked pitches and a duck race near Nottingham was cancelled after a brook ran dry. Rain could fall in northern areas as fresher weather comes in from today but it is unlikely to hit the most arid areas in the south where the highest temperatures are expected in London on Wednesday. The Environment Agency said reservoir storage in England stands at 75 per cent, seven percentage points below the average, while two reservoirs have “exceptionally low” levels: Blagdon (59 per cent) and Wimbleball (57 per cent), both in Somerset. Most read in The Sun Wildfire in Herefordshire Credit: LNP Sun-battered fields in Oxfordshire Credit: Shutterstock Editorial As a result, almost half of the population of England face restrictions on water use. Heat alerts warning that temperature could affect health and wellbeing were put in place yesterday for the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West and West Midlands. Comment now