Odds on Britain’s hottest July ever slashed after sizzling weekend

Following sizzling temperatures this weekend, bookmakers have slashed the odds on next month being the hottest July on record in the UK.

Coral said the recent rays of sunshine have prompted a ‘flurry of bets’, with odds on the record being broken tumbling to 6-4 from 2-1.

The company makes it 1-2 that this summer will be the hottest ever, while it is 4-5 for there to be a hosepipe ban at any point in 2019.

Coral spokesman John Hill said: ‘The mini heatwave over the last couple of days has prompted a flurry of bets on next month being the hottest July on record as many punters feel as though the hot weather is going to continue.’

Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far as the mercury reached 34°C – but it didn’t quite break the all-time June record of 35.6°C set in 1976.

However, forecasters are now predicting a ‘massive drop in temperature’ to finish off the weekend – although conditions will remain warm.

Several European countries have reported record temperatures this week, including France which hit an all-time heat record of 44.3°C on Friday.

Last year was the joint hottest summer on record for the UK as a whole, and the hottest ever for England.

The highest ever recorded UK July temperature was set in Heathrow, London at 36.7°C on 1 July 2015.