England match and hot weather to cause 999 delays

South East Coast Ambulance Service is bracing for a surge in callouts as temperatures soar and England play in the World Cup.

The service received more than 3,500 emergency calls each day during the busiest period of the May bank holiday – 30% more than normal, it said.

With high temperatures expected until at least Thursday, the service is expecting a repeat, with a further surge in callouts anticipated due to England's fixture against Ghana on Tuesday night.

People are urged to only call 999 in an emergency to help ease the pressure on the ambulance service.

In a non-emergency situation, the public are advised to call the NHS's 111 service or speak to a community pharmacist.

Football supporters enjoying the World Cup are urged to "plan ahead, stay hydrated with soft drinks and water, and ensure they get home safely", the service said.

The Met Office has issued a red extreme heat warning, covering parts of the Midlands, south-east Wales and southern England, with temperatures set to hit 40C (104F) later this week.

The warning will be in force from 09:00 GMT on Wednesday until 21:00 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Southern Rail has advised passengers travelling to, from, or within extreme heat zones to only travel if "absolutely necessary during record heatwave".

A Southern spokesperson said as high temperatures were expected on Tuesday, this could increase the potential for disruption to the train service.

Southeastern has also advised commuters to avoid peak travel times as trips to and from coastal towns are expected to be busy.

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