IT IS getting hotter and hotter on Merseyside and Cheshire as the heatwave looks set to continue into next week.
It reached 27C on Monday but by 2pm yesterday it was 28.6C (83.5F) in Liverpool and experts say it will be even warmer today.
A spokeswoman from Press Association Weather Centre said that temperatures could hit 30C.
She said: "Because you are by the coast the sea is going to make it a bit cooler than inland, but you can still expect it to be between 28C and 30C.
"The reason for the hot weather is high pressure in the North Sea and a south easterly wind. The warm wind is pushing the heat upwards from the Mediterranean."
Meanwhile, while many people enjoyed the sunshine pigs at Croxteth Country Park are having suntan lotion put on them.
Although some can enjoy the sun those with white hai risk being burnt.
On many farms the pigs would be able to roll around in mud to keep the sun off but in Croxteth Country Park they are basking on concrete.
Once a day, factor 25 is applied and every hour they are given a hosing down to keep them cool.
Lisa Gunn, deputy farm manager for Croxteth Country Park, said: "I have been doing this so long now that it doesn't seem strange putting suntan lotion on.
"Once an hour we have to hose them down to keep them cool and in the afternoon we put sun lotion on.
"We have five pigs and six piglets which are about seven months old.
"Not all of them like to be out in the sun, there is only a few of them that enjoy it.
"It's the white haired ones that need to be covered, the black ones and red ones are OK in the sun.
"The thing is that some of them just love to be out there in the sun."
William Hill have closed their book on the weather reaching 100F anywhere in the country.
Odds closed at 6/4 because today, it is thought, it will reach those temperatures.
On Friday odds sat at 12/1 then over the weekend fell to 10/1 then 8/1 and 5/1. By Monday it was slashed to 7/2.
A spokeswoman said last night: "We have had to stop taking bets because the Met Office have said that it is going happen now so we don't want to take anymore bets."
But there has been a downside to the hot weather due to irresponsible vandals.
Homes in Huyton, Speke and Garston were left without water and with low pressure on Monday after 27 fire hydrants were vandalised by young people.
A spokesman for Merseyside Fire Service said: "When a hydrant is broken into, the United Utilities computer thinks there is a leak and lowers the water pressure.
"This means that some homes have low pressure and others have none. This can be dangerous, particularly with anyone on kidney dialysis.
"Also when people break into the hydrants they can break them and a fire service without water is not much help to anyone.
"We are asking people in the community who see these youngsters doing this to keep an eye on them.
"It may seem like fun but they are putting people's lives at risk."
Sizzling summer temperatures are expected to send demand for water soaring as people fill up their paddling pools, water their lawns and quench their thirst.
United Utilities says an extra 200 million litres of water was used last time there was a mini-heatwave - the equivalent of supplying another 1.3 million people in the region.
While there is enough water to go around, these sudden peaks in demand pull so much water through the supply system they can have the effect of reducing water pressure at customers' taps.
United Utilities' customer service director Gary Dixon last night asked people to use water wisely.
He said: "Our reservoir levels are as high as expected for this time of year and there is no shortage of water.
"However, we saw demand increase by at least 10pc on the very sunny days last time.
"We all want to cool down in this weather, but we are just asking people to be sensible about the amount of water they use.
"A garden sprinkler alone uses as much water in an hour as a family of four does in a day.
"We would ask people to not leave on sprinklers overnight as this stops local storage reservoirs refilling and can cause poor water pressure in the morning.
"When demand peaks it can cause a drop in pressure. It's a bit like turning on all the taps in your house at the same time.
"We want people to make the most of the weather - but please be sensible.
"That way everyone can enjoy the summer with plenty of water on tap."
