There has been travel chaos and security concerns in the UK after airports were shut down after runways melted in the extreme heat.
Passengers at Luton airport were stopped from taking their flights after the tarmac melted in temperatures close to 40 degrees centigrade, and at the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire all military flights had to be halted.
The base is the sole leaving point for RAF aircraft travelling to foreign destinations, raising worries about the UK's ability to mobilise in an emergency.
A total of 22 squadrons and 5,800 air-force personnel operates out of Brize Norton and the troops have been on high-alert since the brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia in late February. The base is currently hosting and training Ukrainian forces to help defend against Russia.
Luton airport is one of the UK's busiest commercial airports and accommodates flights from airlines such as EasyJet, Wizz Air, Ryanair and TUI.
A spokesperson for Luton Airport said:
"Following today's high temperatures, a surface defect was identified on the runway. Engineers were called immediately to the site- and repair works are currently in progress to resume operations as soon as possible. We would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused."
While one passenger wrote online:
"They have just closed the runway at Luton airport for at least an hour. We were just about to be pushed back and they stopped everything. Inbound flights are being diverted."
The UK is experiencing a record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures reaching an all-time high. Much of the UK infrastructure is not designed to handle such heat. There are fears now that the electricity supply could be disturbed due to overheating of the electrical grid and there have already been reports across the UK of trains being cancelled because the train lines have buckled and warped under the immense heat.
The UK Government has encouraged people to only travel when necessary, remain hydrated, stay indoors if possible, and look out for elderly and vulnerable neighbours.
[Based on reporting by: The Daily Record]
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