The heatwave which last week gripped the country saw a new record temperature set for the UK, the Met Office has now confirmed.
A temperature of 38.7C (101.66F) was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on Thursday, exceeding the previous record of 38.5C (101.3F) set in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003.
The figure was first announced as a provisional temperature on Friday and has now been validated by the Met Office observations team.
It means the UK joins Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in breaking national records as exceptionally high temperatures gripped large parts of central and western Europe last week.
The high temperatures were driven by hot air funnelled from the south, forecasters said.
The mercury hit its highest ever level in Belgium (41.8C), Germany (41.5C) and the Netherlands (40.7C), in each case breaking a record that was only set on Wednesday. Paris saw a record high temperature of 42.6C.
Met Office experts say there is "no doubt" climate change is playing a role in driving the unprecedented temperature highs.
Nick Scriven, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said during the heatwave that NHS staff were "struggling" and "overheated and exhausted staff" were at greater risk of making errors.
Network Rail announced that speed restrictions would be in place amid fears that tracks could buckle in the heat if trains travel too fast.
Meanwhile commuters at Euston and St Pancras faced huge delays as trains were severely disrupted after heat damaged overhead cables.
The record heatwave came after some areas experienced a "tropical night" on Wednesday, with the temperatures staying above 20C in spots such as St James' Park, central London, Wattisham, in Suffolk, and Cromer, Norfolk.
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