Hay fever warning as pollen count set to soar after killer heatwave

Hay fever sufferers will endure a miserable week fighting a "very high" pollen court, forecasters have warned.

The Met Office says the weekend's heatwave and muggy air will cause pollen levels to soar.

Breathing in hot air, which has wafted across the UK from mainland Europe, can cause airways to narrow.

Maps compiled by Met Office show "very high" pollen symbols across most of England, notably southern and central areas.

Temperatures peaked at 34C on Saturday, one of the warmest June days for about 40 years.

But hot weather can also increase the amount of pollutants and mould in the air, which can cause asthma symptoms to flare up.

"This swampy humid air could spell misery for people with asthma and even trigger a potentially life-threatening asthma attack," said Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead for Asthma UK and a practising GP.

Pollen levels will be 'very high' across England this week (file image) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"Humidity can trap pollutants and allergens like pollen, mould, dust and smoke in the air, which then cause asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and a tight chest.

"If you have asthma and are already noticing more asthma symptoms such as coughing, a tight chest or breathlessness, make sure you keep your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times.

"Take hay fever medicines to help stop the allergic reaction, use your preventer inhaler (usually brown) as prescribed to reduce the inflammation in your airways."

Nasal sprays and other over-the-counter medications can help with the symptoms (Getty)

Some 10 million people in Britain suffer with hay fever - and it affects around 80% of people with asthma.

Grass pollen is the most common allergy and affects 90 per cent of people with hay fever, according to Allergy UK.

The season runs from mid-May until July, with two peaks - usually the first two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July.

Mirror Online said that, while , the weather will remain somewhat muggy.

The huge area of high pressure has moved from mainland Europe (Alistair Grant Freelance / Tropical Tidbits)

Over the weekend, crowds flocked to the seaside, including Weymouth beach in Dorset (Tom Corban/REX)

STV weather presenter Sean Batty said: "Windows and cars are filthy after rain with a plume of sand from the Sahara."

Roads, including the A50 in the Midlands, have melted as a result of the heat.

Derbyshire Roads Policing Unit said: "The A50 melted, causing large chunks to come loose."