Due to the intense heat, bakery chain Greggs has shut down 11 of its stores on Wednesday and Thursday as a safety precaution.
The closure of these stores, equipped with large ovens, was motivated by concerns for the well-being of both employees and customers.
Workers at a London store mentioned that they were relocated to other branches following the closure of their store due to the lack of adequate air conditioning to combat the extreme heat generated by the industrial ovens.
The affected stores are located in Aldridge, Wolverhampton, Luton, Gosport, Trowbridge, Barnet, Marlborough, Wantage, Dudley, Northampton, and Leicester Square, London.
Greggs has been reached out to for a statement regarding the situation by the Mirror.
In other news, the scorching weather in Britain has led to over 1,000 school closures for safety reasons.
Additionally, the soaring temperatures have disrupted transportation services, with railways being affected, and travel advisories have been issued by operators. The RAC reported a 20% increase in callouts for vehicle breakdowns compared to a regular day on Tuesday.
The Met Office has extended the rare red warning for extreme heat from Wednesday and Thursday to include the south coast of England, encompassing cities such as Brighton, Bognor Regis, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth, and Dorchester.
Furthermore, an amber warning for heat has been issued for Friday, covering eastern and central England, as the exceptionally hot weather is expected to persist through the end of the week. Updates on the extreme weather conditions may be provided as more information becomes available.
Grahame Madge, a spokesperson for the Met Office, stated that an additional amber warning has been issued for eastern and central England for Friday, with the possibility of further updates pending more detailed forecasts.
Liberal Democrat MPs have urged the Government to open air-conditioned public buildings as “cool hubs” to provide relief for vulnerable individuals during the ongoing heatwave. They suggested that gyms, leisure centers, libraries, and other facilities could serve as safe spaces for those at higher risk due to the extreme heat.